The Counter-Strike (CS2) world saw a significant team roster change this week. MIBR, a well-known esports organization, announced that player Rafael “saffee” Costa has moved to its reserve bench. This decision came on the afternoon of Monday, August 25. It marks the end of Saffee’s active role with the team after a two-year run.
Saffee’s last competitive match for MIBR was on August 6. The team played in the BLAST Bounty 2025 tournament that day. MIBR faced Virtus.pro and lost the match with a score of 2-0. This result came just before the official announcement about his new status.
Saffee’s Journey and MIBR’s Statement
Rafael “saffee” Costa joined MIBR in June 2023. Before that, he built a notable career playing for several other teams. These included New England Whalers, Paquetá, paiN, and FURIA. Throughout his professional life, Saffee competed in six Majors, which are major tournaments in the Counter-Strike scene. Two of those Major appearances were while wearing the traditional team jersey of MIBR.
MIBR shared its official message about the change on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. The organization thanked Saffee for his dedication. They highlighted his two years with the team and his participation in two Majors. MIBR praised his professionalism and wished him good luck in his next steps.
🚨 UPDATE:
Hoje movemos o atleta @saffeecsgo ao banco do #MIBRCS.
Foram 2 anos com a gente e 2 majors disputados. Agradecemos pelo profissionalismo e por toda a dedicação durante esse tempo. Obrigado e boa sorte, Saffee! 💙 pic.twitter.com/UOSP10qEe5
— MADE IN BRAZIL. (@MIBR) August 25, 2025
Rafael also posted his own thoughts on X. He expressed gratitude to MIBR for the chance to play for such a legendary team. He admitted that the last few months had been tough for him and the squad. However, he emphasized that he would always remember the good times they shared. Saffee also spoke of the team’s resilience during his two years there. He extended his thanks to all the fans who cheered him on. Finally, he asked supporters to put their trust in the remaining MIBR players as they move forward.