Julio ‘Beast’ Bianchi and Thabo ‘Yvng Savage’ Moloi, competitive FIFA players for Goliath Gaming, have made the Forbes Africa 30 Under 30 Class of 2021, and are the first esports athletes to ever do so.
The Forbes Africa 30 Under 30 list is the most-anticipated list of game-changers on the continent who are resilient self-starters, innovators, entrepreneurs and disruptors who have the acumen to stay the course in their chosen field, come what may. 2021 celebrates 30 of Africa’s brightest achievers under the age of 30 spanning these categories: Business, Technology, Creatives, and Sport. This year will go down in history as the Under 30s who survived and thrived during one of the most turbulent times recorded: the global COVID-19 pandemic.
Julio ‘Beast’ Bianchi (23) hails from Cape Town and used to be a semi-pro footballer before switching his focus to gaming. At the FIFAe World Cup Global Series Playoffs in Amsterdam in 2018 he impressively beat 2X world champion, August Agge Rosenmeier, and finished off in the top 64 in the world on PS4 in the tournament. In 2021, Julio made FIFA history by being in the first team from South Africa to ever qualify and compete in the official FIFAe Club World Cup. Beast has won many top local FIFA tournaments and ended the FIFA20 season as #3 on PS4 in South Africa and #155 in the world on PS4 in the official FIFA20 rankings. Beast is signed to one of South Africa’s top Multi Gaming Organisation’s, Goliath Gaming, and is the captain of their FIFA squad. In April 2021, he qualified to represent South Africa as part of the national squad in the official FIFA eNations online qualifiers. Beast is currently ranked #2 in South Africa on the official FIFA21 Global Series Leaderboard. Outside of competitive gaming, he is studying accounting at CPUT in Cape Town.
Thabo “Yvng Savage” Moloi (19) from Johannesburg is a competitive FIFA player for Goliath Gaming and the first Red Bull esports athlete on the African continent. Yvng Savage broke out onto the competitive FIFA scene in 2018 and has gone on to win numerous local FIFA tournaments since. He ended the FIFA20 season as #1 on PS4 in SA and #73 in the world on PS4 in the official FIFA20 rankings. In 2019 Yvng Savage made history when he was announced as the first Red Bull esports athlete on the African continent. In April 2020 he captained the official eBafana Bafana FIFA squad in the FIFA eNations Stay and Play Cup, with team mates Cassper Nyovest, Sibusiso Vilakazi and Kagiso Rabada. In April 2021, he qualified once again to form part of the South African national FIFA squad. Yvng Savage is currently ranked #4 in South Africa on the official FIFA21 Global Series Leaderboard.
Both Beast and Yvng Savage are ecstatic and incredibly honoured to feature on such a prestigious list, and are among the youngest to do so.
“The FORBES AFRICA 30 Under 30 is the most coveted list of the year, and we are celebrating seven years of the list in 2021. What makes this compilation even more compelling is the fighting spirit of the candidates that made it through a challenging year. They need to be honoured even more for their tenacity and resilience as leaders charting a non-linear trajectory to success,” says Renuka Methil, Managing Editor of FORBES AFRICA.
The complete FORBES AFRICA Top 30 Under 30 Class of 2021 (in no particular order) is:
• Julio ‘Beast’ Bianchi, South Africa, esports athlete, FIFA player
• Cheslin Kolbe, South Africa, rugby player
• Thabo ‘Yvng Savage’ Moloi, South Africa, esports athlete, FIFA player
• Lukhanyo Am, South Africa, rugby player
• Cleo Johnson, South Africa, founder and director of NUECLEO
• Timilehin Bello, Nigeria, CEO and founder of Media Panache
• Lebohang Moeletsi Phadi, South Africa, CEO of Basadi Logistics
• Sepenica Darko, Ghana, founder of FarmerTribe Company
• Deborah Mutwemwa, Zambia – South Africa, founder and CEO Tsumbo Scott Incorporated
• Bontle Tshole, South Africa, CEO and founder of BAAA Health
• Brian Kakembo, Uganda, founder, and CEO of Weye Clean Energy Co. Ltd
• Hertzy Kabeya, DRC – South Africa, founder and CEO of The Student Hub
• Temidayo Oniosun, Nigeria, founder of Space in Africa
• Felix Byaruhanga, Uganda, founder of Skyline media and Management LTD
• Harrykrishna Niadassen Poonoosamy Padiachy, Mauritius, founder of NKH Energy
• Shakemore Timburwa, Zimbabwe, founder of Energy Plus
• Mihlali Ndamase, South Africa, creative and digital influencer
• Amarachi Nwosu, Nigerian self-taught visual artist, storyteller, and CEO of Melanin Unscripted
• Divine Ikubor (also known as Rema), Nigeria, musician
• Reinhard Mahalie, Namibia, fashion stylist and founder of RM Fashion Styling
• Tendai Kevin Zhou, Zimbabwe, founder of VP Hostings
• Kabelo Motha (also known as Kabza De Small), South Africa, producer and DJ
• Kgaogelo Moagi (also known as Master KG), South Africa, music artist and producer
• Ifan Ifeanyi Michael, Nigeria, Creative artist and filmmaker
• Li-Chi Pan, South Africa, art director and digital influencer; founder of Li Chi Pan Studios
• Hayze Engola, Malawi, musician, creative, and founder of KNQR Investments
• Wale Lawal, Nigeria, founder and editor-in-chief of The Republic
• Tilka Paljk, Zambia, swimmer
• James Kang’aru MwangI, Kenya, founder and CEO of Epitome School of Chess
• Antonio Depina, Cape Verde, founder, Overseas Basketball Connection, Praia League
