By Mohamed Hamza

Mariam Musa toasted a Saturday night to savour after being crowned champion of the Football Eseries tournament at the Women's Esports Finals.

The 30-year-old Waltham Forest native, who streams on the video platform Twitch under the name 'Futheda', competed in the Football Eseries - a knockout EA Sports FC 25 tournament - in the UK's first-of-its-kind women's only esports initiative, hosted in the heart of Sky HQ in Isleworth, West London.

Competitors from across the UK went head-to-head in the knockout-based tournament in what proved to be an action-packed finals.

Sky Broadband, in partnership with Guild Esports and Gaming - The Women's Esports Finals

And after emerging victorious and earning a professional Guild Esports and Gaming contract and 24 months of free Sky Broadband alongside a share of a £50,000 prize pot, Musa could not conceal her delight.

“It feels crazy to be the Football Eseries champion, it doesn’t feel real.

"It was amazing to have that many women come out and showcase their talent at Sky. I’m looking forward to the support that Guild Esports and Gaming can offer.

"Hopefully I can work with their coaches, compete in more tournaments and show more representation as a person of colour as it’s really hard to enter the space.”

Sky Broadband is empowering women to game competitively through the launch of its first-of-its-kind women’s esports initiative that offers professional contract opportunities – supporting its shared mission with Guild Esports and Gaming to create a more inclusive gaming industry.

This is the first women's esports tournament in the UK to award professional contracts as well as cash prizes to winners.

Winners will receive bootcamp training, access to top-class facilities and experts to help them keep at the top of their game as well as free Sky Broadband for 24 months.

The initiative was launched in April by Sky Broadband, in partnership with Guild Esports and Gaming, and their ambassador, David Beckham, with the aim of providing a platform for talented women gamers to showcase their skills.

Amber Pine, MD, Sky Connectivity, said: “Huge congratulations to Grete Lajal and Mariam Musa on becoming the first ever champions of our Women’s Esports Finals.

"At Sky Broadband, we’re incredibly proud to have partnered with Guild Esports and Gaming on this groundbreaking initiative, together we are changing the game and proving that esports is a space for everyone.”