Daniil “Zeus” Teslenko, a former professional Counter-Strike player, has shared his thoughts on Passion UA`s decision to part ways with their CS2 coach, Mikhail “Kane” Blagin. Zeus voiced his opinion on his personal Telegram channel.
Zeus expressed his reaction to the dismissal of Kane from Passion UA. He mentioned that he and Kane were involved in the initial player selection process for the team. This process, he stated, was a meticulous effort lasting three to four months, involving numerous tests and training sessions. From thousands of applicants, they carefully selected the players who are now known, but were then unknown individuals. Zeus emphasized that Kane`s experience and dedication were instrumental in giving these players an opportunity.
Zeus highlighted Kane`s success in leading Passion UA to international recognition. Under Kane`s guidance, the team achieved significant milestones, including qualifying for a Major tournament and earning team stickers, and narrowly missed reaching the “Legends” stage. Zeus underscored that these achievements were the result of considerable effort, primarily attributing them to Kane`s capabilities as a coach and leader.
Zeus noted that following the sales of players like Fear and jambo, reportedly for transfers nearing $1 million, the team continued with a new roster. He acknowledged that the new team would require time to develop chemistry and build a solid foundation. However, he found it surprising that the organization chose to remove the person who had built the entire system from scratch at this point.
Zeus shared that he had spoken with Kane, who also expressed his surprise at the decision, stating that it was unexpected and without prior notice. Zeus commented that, while not intending any negativity towards the management, he views this decision as “very strange,” to put it mildly, if not worse, from multiple perspectives.
Zeus reflected on his long-standing relationship with Kane, spanning over 20 years, including shared experiences at Majors, victories, and, importantly, mutual respect.
Zeus conveyed his well wishes to Kane, hoping he finds a team that truly values his skills. He affirmed Kane`s status as a top-tier coach, citing his proven track record, and expressed confidence in Kane`s future success, encouraging him to persevere. Zeus concluded by suggesting that time will clarify the situation.
Zeus also questioned Passion UA`s strategy, pondering the logic behind selling key players for substantial sums, not investing in replacements, and simultaneously expecting immediate strong performances. He reiterated that Kane was responsible for building the entire team system and expressed bewilderment at how this could be overlooked, describing the situation as “very strange.”
Kane had been coaching Passion UA since August 2023. During his tenure, the team secured victories in several tier-3 championships and qualified for the Perfect World Shanghai Major 2024, where they finished in 17th-19th place. Passion UA officially announced the end of their collaboration with Blagin on March 3rd.