EPTCJ has received the operating rights to the Hite Sparkyz team from OnGameNet, a decision made in light of the rapidly approaching 2010~2011 Proleague season.
The OnGameNet Sparkyz's naming sponsorship deal with Hite (a Korean beer company) is still in effect, and thus the joined team will participate this season under the name "Hite Entus." All players on OGN Sparkyz's Brood War and Special Forces teams will continue their contracts under CJ.
Acting head coach Kim Dong Woo of CJ Entus has been appointed as the head coach, while Lee Jaehoon (ForU), Joo Jinchul (Starcraft_Side), and Jeon Taegyu (Zeus) have been named as coaches. Former Hite Sparkyz Coach Lee Myung Geun will work as an advisor to the team, focused on cultivating young talents (his allowance of suspected match-fixing players to play during the proleague season had come under fire).
The team will begin the merging process in earnest on the 13th.
Fomos interview with new head coach Kim Dong Woo
Source: FOMOS
Fomos: You've been officially named head coach after the merger.
KDW: We've been preparing for this for a while. The important thing is the merger, not the fact that I'm head coach. Sparkyz have a lot of great players, so I'm have big expectations this season. I hope to make the two teams coalesce well and lead them this season.
Fomos: The team has become stronger with the addition of solid starters like Shin Sang Moon (Leta) and Lee Gyung Min (Horang2).
KDW: I didn't think we had become particularly weaker because of Kim Jung Woo's (Effort) retirement. It was unfortunate to lose an ace card, but we still had a lot of good mid-tier players so I didn't consider it to be a big problem. But this merger with Sparkyz provides us with a lot of starters which is a big help at strengthening the team.
Fomos: Are the preparations for the merger going well?
KDW: It's important that there's good chemistry after the merger. That's what I'm focusing on the most. Right now the two team houses are in Pyeong Chang-dong and Yongsan, but we'll be living in the same place before the start of the season.
Fomos: How did the players react upon hearing the news?
KDW: I told the players yesterday night, and they were all quite surprised. They have good relationships with the Sparkyz players though, so their reaction was that there was no problem.
Fomos: The addition of Leta will probably be the biggest help.
KDW: Leta is a great player, and he also a nice guy who conducts himself well outside the game, so I'm excited about him joining. He works well coaches as well, so we think he'll do well on Hite Entus as well. Leta has a lot of friends as Entus, so we think he'll have no problem fitting in.
Fomos: This might make you entertain some lofty goals this season?
KDW: It's my first season as head coach, so I'm looking forward to it. But I don't want to get greedy this season, I just want to show a more developed Entus team. I want to lead the players to a result that isn't embarrassing.
Fomos: Your zerg line has been pointed out as the team's weakness.
KDW: It's not that our zergs are bad, people just say this because Jungwoo is no longer with the team. We have our TvT specialist Skyhigh, and Leta on board to strengthen the team. There's no such thing as a team that's good against all three races. We're a better team now, and I hope to get good results this season.
Original post by DragonDefonce
Link to fomos article
CJ just announced that their progaming team will merge with Hite's. This includes Starcraft and Special force team.
CJ will be the company running it, but it will be called the Hite Entus, for some contractual reasons apparently.
Personal thoughts: I am sad to see the number of teams decrease, but the new Entus might be a worthy challenger to KT and SK. If the next proleague does start, it should be very interesting.
CJ just announced that their progaming team will merge with Hite's. This includes Starcraft and Special force team.
CJ will be the company running it, but it will be called the Hite Entus, for some contractual reasons apparently.
Personal thoughts: I am sad to see the number of teams decrease, but the new Entus might be a worthy challenger to KT and SK. If the next proleague does start, it should be very interesting.
