Sources: Kyrgyzstan selects Zelo to lead VALORANT roster for ENC 2026

The Esports Nations Cup carousel is only just beginning, and with it, partner teams and national managers must find coaches to lead their respective squads. In this context, according to sources close to Sheep Esports, Kyrgyzstan has reportedly turned to Harry “Zelo” Davies to coach its VALORANT selection set to compete in the ENC.

The Central Asian country, bordered by China, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan, is therefore expected to field a roster in Riot Games’ FPS, in addition to PUBG Mobile, a title in which they recently secured a continental championship in another nation-based competition.

Having competed across multiple European leagues with DIVIZION in Germany, GiefKalash in Norway, and Team Galaga in Spain, Zelo made a name for himself primarily in North America. The English coach notably served as head coach for QoR in VCL North America before taking on a stint in Game Changers as head coach of 100 Thieves and later returning to Europe, first with Nightblood Gaming and then with WLG Gaming in Challengers North East.

It is worth noting that ENC regulations allow countries to appoint a coach of a different nationality, which is not permitted for players unless they already hold dual citizenship. As such, his role will be to select, alongside Nurbek Abdygulov, CEO of HYDRA, the country’s leading local organization, the five starters and two substitutes who will represent Kyrgyzstan in VALORANT.

While Sheep Esports has yet to confirm the full lineup, there is strong reason to believe Zelo’s appointment is linked to Kyrgyz Duelist Torogul “alym” Baidyldaev, currently playing for FURIA in VCT Americas, who previously shared time with the English coach at QoR. As the only local player competing in a top-tier league, he is expected to be the cornerstone of Kyrgyzstan’s roster, should he agree to participate.

Scheduled from November 2 to 29 for its inaugural edition in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, the nation-based competition, the largest in esports history, is expected to bring together thousands of players from around 100 countries, competing across nearly 16 titles. Alongside the VALORANT tournament, set to take place from November 8 to 15, national matchups will also be held in League of Legends, Counter-Strike, Rocket League, and Rainbow Six Siege. For Riot Games’ FPS, around 32 national teams are expected to compete on-site.

Before that, however, participants must be determined. The Esports Foundation, which oversees both the ENC and the Esports World Cup as two separate events, has decided that 16 of the 32 teams will qualify directly for the main event based on their representatives’ results within Riot Games’ official circuits. The remaining spots will be decided through seven regional qualifiers, each awarding two slots. The final two places are expected to be distributed as wildcards by the ENC, likely at the organizer’s discretion.