Portuguese organization SAW has unveiled a rebuilt lineup after recruiting four players from EXSAD to form its new squad, an initiative the club calls 'Project Genesis' and says is aimed squarely at promoting Portuguese talent. The move represents a clear refocus on homegrown prospects as SAW resets following a wave of recent changes.
The announcement follows a period in which SAW's previous roster members were picked up by other organizations. André "Ag1l" Gil signed with 100 Thieves and João "story" Vieira joined FlyQuest, while Christopher "MUTiRiS" Fernandes, Adones "krazy" Nobre and António "aragornN" Barbosa were acquired by BC.Game. Those departures prompted SAW to accelerate plans for a fresh, nationally focused project.
The four players arriving from EXSAD helped that squad at recent events: EXSAD attended Roman Imperium Cup III and even took a map off SAW in a meeting where SAW were missing story due to illness, before EXSAD were knocked out by Gentle Mates in the quarter-finals. That showing, and the Portuguese pool of talent more broadly, appears to have informed SAW's recruitment drive.
In a statement, SAW said the signings were "the most appropriate decision for our organisation following the recent changes." The club expressed confidence that the new players possess the talent and determination to develop on the national stage and, in time, to compete internationally as well.
SAW also confirmed that staff continuity will be part of the rebuild: head coach Tiago "mowzassa" Rodrigues will remain in his role, and analyst Tiago "SYDOX" Fonseca will keep his position with the organisation. SAW added that SYDOX is expected to step in as a player for the team at Roman Imperium Cup IV later this month while the club finalises its starting five.
The new SAW playing group consists of Daniel "tuxa" Esteves, Dinis "Moretz" Jalles, Alexandre "blaze" Alves and Rodrigo "jERK0z" Costa. With these additions, SAW have signalled a commitment to giving younger Portuguese players a platform and to rebuilding from the ground up around local talent.
Project Genesis, as SAW describe it, focuses on identification and development of Portuguese players with the goal of establishing a competitive presence domestically first and then expanding abroad. The organisation indicated that this project is a response both to the recent roster turnover and to a longer-term strategy of cultivating national prospects.
For now, SAW are still weighing options for the final roster slot and will lean on coaching and analytical staff to bring the new unit together ahead of upcoming events. The club’s next competitive steps, including participation in Roman Imperium Cup IV with SYDOX as a stand-in, will give an early indication of how quickly the refreshed squad can gel.
SAW’s reshuffle underscores a busy off-season in the Portuguese scene, with established players moving to international organisations and emerging talent being given fast-tracked opportunities. How quickly Project Genesis delivers results remains to be seen, but SAW have made clear their intention to build a Portuguese core that can grow into an internationally competitive team.