On May 20, 2024, Natus Vincere launched a new NAVI Junior CS2 roster — and in just over a year, it became one of the most successful academy projects in modern Counter-Strike. Under the guidance of Hungarian coach András “coolio” Fercsák, the team won multiple Tier-2 tournaments, consistently beat RMR-level opposition, and broke into the top 30 of the Valve world rankings — an unprecedented feat for an academy squad.
makazze’s promotion: a new chapter for NAVI
On June 30, NAVI officially announced that 18-year-old Drin “makazze” Shaqiri had been promoted to the main roster. His individual performance over the last 12 months was nothing short of exceptional — a 1.19 average rating, 89 opening score, and 87 entrying score, along with a strong presence in clutch situations.
This decision had been anticipated for some time. The main NAVI lineup, which earned the title of “Team of the Year” in 2024, struggled to reach any finals in the first half of 2025 and suffered an early exit at the BLAST.tv Austin Major. Head coach Andrey “B1ad3” Gorodenskiy acknowledged that changes were inevitable, but emphasized that any replacements would not be due to individual failure:
We all play well at times, and we all make mistakes at times. Even if someone is removed, it’s not because they let us down.
makazze is clearly more than just another academy graduate — his aggressive entry play redefines tempo and space control. However, he shares many roles with Mihai “iM” Ivan, particularly on the T side, which means NAVI will have to rework their tactical setup to fit him in effectively.
Regarding the future of NAVI’s CS2 Junior roster pic.twitter.com/TU0g2ztleW
— NAVI (@natusvincere) June 30, 2025
What’s next for the rest of NAVI Junior?
Despite the roster’s success, NAVI confirmed that the entire remaining NAVI Junior lineup is now up for transfer. This decision stems from structural limitations in the CS ecosystem: academy teams under the same tag cannot continue progressing without violating Major eligibility or ranking point rules.
The following players and coach have been listed for transfer:
- Dmytro “dem0n” Myroshnychenko
- Aulon “Krabeni” Fazlija
- Nikita “cmtry” Samolyotov
- Džiugas “dziugss” Steponavičius
- András “coolio” Fercsák (coach)
This roster holds official ranking points that make it eligible for direct Major invitations, making it an attractive option for organizations looking to acquire a well-synergized and proven squad with experienced leadership.
What’s next for NAVI’s academy?
The organization has already announced a new chapter for NAVI Junior: recruitment for the next roster will begin soon. After producing elite talent like b1t, headtr1ck, and nynx, NAVI Junior will continue to serve as a vital pipeline for nurturing future stars and securing the long-term vision of the club.
NAVI Junior is the pride of our club and a shining example for many young CS2 talents. We will definitely keep you updated on the players’ future, the official statement reads.
The end of an era, the beginning of another
The promotion of makazze and the disbanding of NAVI Junior marks not just a roster change but the end of a historic era in academy Counter-Strike. At the same time, it’s a chance — for Drin Shaqiri to prove himself on the biggest stage, for his teammates to find new homes, and for NAVI to begin building its next generation of stars.
