“Andrew 'kaze' Khong named Rare Atom player-coach”

“Andrew 'kaze' Khong named Rare Atom player-coach”

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Announcement: kaze transitions into a player-coach role

On 24 October 2025, Rare Atom announced that Malaysian veteran AWPer Andrew “kaze” Khong will take on a hybrid player-coach role with the organisation. The statement read:

“After communication and friendly consultation between the club and the player himself, Andrew Khong [kaze] will join the coaching staff and transition to the role of playing coach.” 
The club added:
“We hope that kaze can adapt to his new identity as soon as possible, and use his rich experience in competitions to sharpen the team’s edge and achieve better results.” 
Rare Atom did not elaborate on exactly how kaze’s responsibilities will be split between playing and coaching, nor did they clarify the future of current coach Zhenghui “z8z” Liu. 

Background: kaze’s career and context

Andrew “kaze” Khong, now aged 31, has been competing in Counter-Strike since 2010, primarily as an AWPer.  He rejoined Rare Atom in June 2024 after a spell with TYLOO, with the club announcing his return:

“kaze moves back to Rare Atom … The 29-year-old AWPer has signed for Rare Atom, replacing Junqi ‘Risk’ Chen…” 

Over his tenure at Rare Atom, the team has seen moderate success. According to HLTV, Rare Atom have a win rate of roughly 70.4 % over the past three months and have achieved victories such as those at the ESL Challenger League Season 50 Asia-Pacific region. 

What led to the transition

Rare Atom’s roster has been in flux in recent months. In August 2025, the club parted ways with Aojie “Trash” Tian after only two events. The organisation also replaced “Trash” with Junbing “Tiger” Zhen, who posted an impressive 1.11 rating in his stint. 

The appointment of kaze as player-coach appears to be part of a broader attempt by Rare Atom to stabilise the squad and strengthen its competitive maturity ahead of major events, especially with the upcoming Stage 1 of the StarLadder Budapest Major where Rare Atom will represent Asia. 

Role analysis: what a player-coach entails

The hybrid role of player-coach in Counter-Strike is rare. It demands balancing in-game performance with strategic oversight, practice session leadership, and often in-game staff communication. The organisation’s message emphasises kaze’s “rich experience” as the key asset they hope to leverage.

For kaze, this transition provides a way to extend his career beyond playing while still contributing on-stage. It also allows Rare Atom to leverage his veteran presence in guiding younger teammates such as Zhuo “ChildKing” Peng (rating 1.12) and Yihang “L1haNg” Li (rating 1.10) according to recent stats. 

Implications for Rare Atom

Short-term: The move sends a clear signal that Rare Atom are not content with incremental growth — instead they aim for more immediate impact by blending experience and youth. For major tournaments looming, having someone who knows the pressure of top-level play inside the lineup and on the coaching desk may help their readiness.

Long-term: This role could serve as a transitional bridge allowing kaze to become a full-time coach in the future, while maintaining a competitive presence as a player until that point. It also sets up the club’s attractiveness to event invites and sponsorships: experienced leadership plus growth-oriented talent.

Risk factors:

• Balancing dual responsibilities may affect kaze’s performance. Splitting focus between playing and coaching could lead to fatigue or tactical oversight.

• Team dynamics: integrating a player with coaching duties may create hierarchical difficulties — will younger players feel peer-led or coached?

• Clarity of role: Since Rare Atom did not publicly specify how the coaching responsibilities are split between kaze and z8z, how the internal workflow will function remains to be seen.

What to watch now

• Performance at upcoming events: Rare Atom’s showing at the Stage 1 of the StarLadder Budapest Major (and other major events) will be a first indicator of whether the change delivers tangible results.

• Kaze’s in-game stats: Will his performance remain stable? The pressure of playing and coaching may affect his rating or key metrics as an AWPer.

• Coaching communication flow: How Rare Atom handle vetoes, mid-game adjustments, and site calls will hint at the efficacy of kaze’s coaching extension.

• Long-term organisational trajectory: If Rare Atom continue re-drafting or shifting roles, this appointment may signal a broader restructuring beyond just kaze’s position.

Final thoughts

In sum, Andrew “kaze” Khong’s shift to player-coach within Rare Atom is a bold strategic move. It blends continuity (keeping a veteran with the team) with transition (prepping for future coaching) and pushes Rare Atom’s ambition to compete strongly on the global stage. While the precise workings of his role are not fully defined publicly, the decision places additional responsibility on both the player-coach and the team roster. Whether the synergy between leadership and youth pays off remains to be seen — but for Rare Atom and kaze, this move marks a clear new chapter.