Ninjas in Pyjamas have reshaped their Young Ninjas squad for 2025, welcoming back Gareth “MisteM” Ries to reunite with Jacob “jocab” Nerheden and Maoz “BluePho3nix” Paz, reestablishing a core that previously competed together. Alongside them, the team has introduced new faces, including Rūdolfs “rud” Osmanis from Latvia and Czech rifler Samuel “MahaR” Horáček, who at just 16 years old, represents one of the youngest additions to the academy system. Guiding the lineup will be head coach Rasmus “Zitte” Johansson, bringing his experience to help develop the squad’s potential.
MisteM finds himself back in Young Ninjas after spending time on Ninjas in Pyjamas’ main roster. The South African in-game leader was promoted in September, stepping in for Alejandro “alex” Masanet in an attempt to turn around the team’s struggles. However, the main squad’s performance failed to improve, culminating in a disappointing end to 2024, particularly with their unsuccessful run at the Shanghai Major Europe RMR, where they fell short against G2, HEROIC, and Spirit. As a result, MisteM was benched in January to accommodate the arrival of Marco “Snappi” Pfeiffer.
With his return to Young Ninjas, MisteM looks to rebuild momentum in a setting where he previously found success. Under his leadership, the academy team climbed to No. 54 in the HLTV rankings, proving their competitiveness at the time. His experience will now be instrumental in integrating the newer players into the squad.
MahaR and rud, the latest additions, enter the team with promising potential, though they remain relatively unproven on the international stage. MahaR most recently competed with AVEZ and The Prodigies, securing third-place finishes at regional Czech LAN events. Meanwhile, rud had an extended tenure with GL Academy and represented Latvia at the IESF World Championship in November. Both players bring fresh talent to the lineup, with room to grow under the guidance of their more seasoned teammates.
As the Young Ninjas embark on their 2025 campaign, the restructured roster aims to build on past academy successes while developing the next wave of talent. With MisteM back in the mix and a blend of experienced and emerging players, the team will be looking to make an impact in upcoming competitions.
