Brazilian organization MIBR has officially announced the benching of AWPer Rafael “saffee” da Costa after two years with the team. The decision came as a surprise to fans, as although the team failed to achieve consistent results on the international stage, saffee remained one of the key players in the lineup.
saffee with MIBR
Saffee joined MIBR in June 2023. During his time with the roster, he played in numerous tournaments, showing stable individual performances, even though the team never managed to reach the very top of global Counter-Strike. Still, the Brazilian squad secured several trophies and made notable runs at major events.
Most notable achievements with saffee:
- CCT Season 1 Online Finals #3 — 2nd place
- RES Latin American Series #3 — 1st place
- ESL Challenger at DreamHack Melbourne 2024 — 1st place
- ESL Pro League Season 20 — 3–4th place
- PGL Astana 2025 — 5–8th place
Over two years with MIBR, saffee earned more than $75,000 in prize money, establishing himself as one of the most experienced and consistent AWPers in South America.
Community reaction
The news of saffee’s benching immediately sparked discussion within the Brazilian CS community. Opinions were divided: some felt that changes were necessary, while others questioned whether there was a suitable replacement for such an experienced AWPer.
User setsz pointed out the difficulty of the situation:
“The problem is, who do you put in? The only AWPer I see is hen1, but replacing a 30y AWPer with another 30y AWPer — that’s tough.”
At the same time, many fans thanked saffee for his time in MIBR. For example, Gustavo wrote:
“Saffee, I will always cheer for you and respect you. Unfortunately, some paths don’t go the way we want, but know that you are a top-class professional! I wish you luck in your near future!”
Interestingly, MIBR players themselves have not yet commented on the organization’s decision, leaving fans in the dark about the team’s internal atmosphere.
MIBR searching for a replacement
Who will replace saffee in MIBR’s lineup remains unknown. The organization has not made any official statements about potential transfers or the signing of a new AWPer. With limited options available on the Brazilian scene, the club may face a tough decision.
The current MIBR roster looks as follows:
- exit (IGL)
- brnz4n
- insani
- nicks
- jnt (Coach)
The team now faces a crucial period — finding a replacement who can help them reach the next level in CS2.
