Nemiga Gaming have announced a coaching change: Anton “boX” Burko is temporarily stepping down from the team, with Andrey “Xoma” Mironenko taking over. The reshuffle comes ahead of a packed tournament calendar and could prove decisive for the future of the Russian-Belarusian lineup.
Why boX is taking a break
ROSTER UPDATE
Throughout last year our schedule was quite a busy one: long flights, online and offline tournaments, intense bootcamps and daily trainings.
That type of life requires one’s physical and emotional health to be constantly tested. That’s why at a certain point… pic.twitter.com/w1X9lswFQE
— Nemiga Gaming (@nemigagg) September 9, 2025
Nemiga’s official statement explained that the past year has been extremely demanding for the team. Long flights, constant participation in online and offline tournaments, daily practice, and intense bootcamps took a toll on the coach’s physical and emotional health.
Such a rhythm of life requires constant strain. At a certain point, a pause becomes inevitable. boX asked us for a break, and we accepted his request without any hesitation. We see this step as an act of responsibility both to himself and to the team, the organization said.
For Anton Burko, this pause is a chance to recharge. He has worked with Nemiga for a long time and was essentially the architect of a roster that gradually climbed the rankings and became a recognizable name on the European scene.
Who is Xoma?
During boX’s absence, Andrey “Xoma” Mironenko will take charge of the team. Well-known across Eastern Europe, he brings experience from his time with teams such as 9 Pandas and Virtus.pro, as well as coaching roles in smaller organizations.
His last club was Astrum, which disbanded in June. From that lineup, only Aleksandr “KENSI” Gurkin remained tied to the organization, while Evgeny “Norwi” Ermolin, Robert “Patsi” Isyanov, and Timur “clax” Sabirov transferred to Sangal, and Gleb “gr1ks” Gazin was bought by HEROIC. Xoma was the one who held that mix together, attempting to build structure and strategy — earning him a reputation as a “firefighter” in crisis situations.
His new task in Nemiga is to integrate quickly, stabilize the team’s game plan, and prepare the squad for two upcoming LAN events.
Tough times for Nemiga
This coaching change comes at a challenging moment. Nemiga currently sit 29th in the European VRS rankings, more than 200 points away from the qualification zone for the Budapest Major. The pressure has only increased after the recent departure of star player Ivan “zweih” Gogin, who left for another organization. He was replaced by Maksim “sowalio” Beketov.
Competition in the region remains extremely fierce, making this a critical period for Nemiga, where any roster or staff changes could have long-term consequences.
Upcoming tournaments
Nemiga are already competing in ESL Challenger League Season 50 Europe Cup 2 and the closed qualifier for the Thunderpick World Championship. In September, the team will also return to the LAN stage:
- Betclic Clash Summer 2025 (September 13–14, Gdansk, Poland)
- Majestic LanDaLan 3 (September 25–28, Moscow, Russia)
These tournaments will be Xoma’s first real test with Nemiga. His ability to adapt and apply his coaching style will determine whether the team can overcome recent losses and challenge stronger opponents.
Current Nemiga roster
- Kirill “Xant3r” Kononov
- Aliaksandr “1eeR” Nahorny
- Maksim “sowalio” Beketov
- Maksim “riskyb0b” Churikov
- Beksultan “khaN” Ospan
- Coach: Andrey “Xoma” Mironenko (interim)
- Inactive coach: Anton “boX” Burko
Community reaction
The announcement of Xoma’s arrival and boX’s temporary departure generated an active discussion on HLTV forums. Some users reacted with enthusiasm — “LETS GET IT KING <3”, while others questioned Xoma’s track record, pointing to statistics such as a 46% CT round win rate.
Skeptics highlighted Nemiga’s struggles: “hi box, we found a better coach, you have personal issues and burnout right? – Yes”, one comment read sarcastically. Others were more supportive, reminding that Xoma almost reached the Major playoffs in the past, even without being a full head coach.
There were also humorous takes: “box more like pyramid” and ironic exaggerations such as “I won Stockholm 2021 Major with NAVI without even being part of the team.” Meanwhile, another fan joked, “Welcome Xoma coach bug abuser <3.”
Overall, the community remains divided: some see the change as a necessary reset, others as a risky move before key events.
What’s next?
Nemiga hope that Xoma can provide a short-term boost while boX recovers. In the longer term, the organization will need to decide whether Mironenko remains in charge or whether the head coach returns to his duties. This rotation highlights a new reality in professional esports: even coaches need time off, and Nemiga have openly shown their willingness to support their staff in such situations.
