FunPlus Phoenix wasted no time in making roster changes following a disappointing Kickoff campaign. Finishing last in
VCT China after three playoff defeats, FPX are set to reinforce their lineup ahead of Stage 1 with the arrival of Blendi “
kovaQ” Kovaci, who was informed a few days ago that his visa request had been approved, sources tell Sheep Esports.
He should be replacing Natchaphon "sScary" Matarat who won’t continue with the team, per sources.
The Albanian-Swiss player is set to experience his second stint in the VCT after a brief spell with
Team Vitality during
VCT EMEA Stage 2 2025. Since the beginning of the year,
he had been competing in the VALORANT Challengers League DACH with CGN Esports.
A solution to FPX’s problem?
kovaQ is therefore being granted a second opportunity in the VCT following a challenging initial experience. Having joined the Hive in an effort to address the struggles of a roster facing inconsistent results during the season, he was ultimately unable to establish himself or help the French organization achieve its objectives. After a short split, he moved to CGN at the start of 2026, where he delivered markedly stronger performances.
More recently, he has particularly excelled when positioned on information-gathering agents such as Sova and Fade. He took part in the opening weeks of competition with the German side and produced generally convincing displays. Long overshadowed by FOKUS, CGN nevertheless gained the upper hand in the playoffs, defeating their rival to secure qualification for the Stage 1 final, scheduled to take place on March 1.
This could prove to be his final match with the team before joining FPX. Since 2024, when they attended every international event while consistently finishing second in their domestic league, the Chinese organization has gradually slipped into mid- and lower-table positions. Hoping to mark a fresh start this year, the team suffered three defeats against TYLOO, Bilibili Gaming, and JD Gaming, without ever truly managing to trouble their opponents. FPX will now look to return to contention with the addition of kovaQ, whose arrival is expected to inject renewed impetus into the roster.
