S0tF1k: “I believe mazay is the future of our academy — I’ll put him back in at the first opportunity”

S0tF1k: “I believe mazay is the future of our academy — I’ll put him back in at the first opportunity”

Spirit Academy’s coach, Dmitriy “S0tF1k” Forostyanko, recently spoke with HLTV after his squad’s premature exit from the Majestic LanDaLan tournament, offering insight into the team’s direction and his confidence in young talent Volodymyr “mazay” Iorhachov. 

Spirit Academy bowed out of the event without winning a single map, losing to both TPuDCATb TPu and Betera. With that defeat behind them, S0tF1k addressed the future of the academy roster, and shared his belief in mazay’s potential. 

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Emphasis on mazay’s role and potential

S0tF1k made clear that despite mazay’s recent benching, he remains a major part of the academy’s vision:

“I believe mazay is the future of our academy. I will put him back in at the first opportunity.” 

The coach framed mazay as one of the central building blocks for the team going forward. Mazay, just 16, has limited achievements so far — HLTV lists no trophies under his name — but is increasingly viewed as a rising prospect.

S0tF1k also commented on two other academy graduates, Maxim “kyousuke” Lukin and Alimzhan “Alkaren” Bitimbai, and their paths of progression within Spirit’s system. 

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Background & roster movements

• In June 2025, mazay was promoted from Team Spirit Academy’s “Black” squad to the main academy roster.

• Earlier, kyousuke had left Spirit Academy — on June 23, 2025, he joined Team Falcons, opening a slot for mazay’s rise.

• Spirit had unveiled three new youth squads earlier in the year, and mazay was listed among their 15–16 year-old talents.

• According to Spirit Academy’s HLTV page, the current academy roster includes robo, syph0, Mokuj1n, and kurosse, with S0tF1k coaching the squad.