Sunday 2 August 2020

Celebrating MSSA's female Protea athletes.

The Fabulous Four - from left to right - Charlize Seremak (top), Maryke Kennard (bottom), Marissa van der Westhuizen (top), Lyrene Kühn (bottom).
During Women's Month, it is the perfect time for Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA) to reflect on the enormous contribution made by its female members.

MSSA's female Protea Team Members (past and present) are trailblazers, as they have raised the bar for every other national federation. Especially in esports, it is So
uth Africa's female athletes that lead the way by continually representing South Africa at IESF's World Championships. In fact, it is only South Africa that has had female members of such esports team each=and-every-year since 2012.


Women's Month in August was created by the South African government as a tribute to the more than 20,000 women who marched to the Union Buildings on 9 August 1956 in protest against the extension of Pass Laws to women.

Thirty-five (35) females have represented MSSA in its various activities as members of its Protea Teams, be they in the board games, esports, and wargames disciplines.


Five (5) women (Diana Barnard, Adele Janse van Rensburg, Ginny Daly, Michelle Marder, and Joann Stathoussis) served as managers of the Protea Teams, while four (4) women had the onerous task of serving as Team Captain in which all four excelled.

Three females (Elisha Retief, Bernice (nee Bőhm) Ligault, and Teresa Chen) did South Africa proud by scooping up World Championship titles with Gabriella Isaacs picking up a second place in IESF's 2012 World Championships.

MSSA is unreservedly proud of its female athletes' accomplishments.

The full list of women who have earned Protea Colours while representing MSSA are::


 DateName of playerPeriodClub/Team
2020Diana BarnardManagerOakhill School

2019
Dr Janine BrandtTechnicalValhalla
Amanda KwazaChef de missionKnights Mind Sports Club
Charlize Seremak (Captain)Tekken 7HTS Sasolburg

2018
Adele Janse van RensburgManagerGeneration X
Alora Ann LiebenbergCounter-Strike: GOZAG Academy
Amanda PakadeChef de missionKnights Mind Sports Club
Nicole RootmanCounter-Strike: GOZAG Academy
Charlize SeremakTekken 7HTS Sasolburg
Lelane SoldinCounter-Strike: GOZAG Academy
Marisa van der Westhuizen (Captain)Counter-Strike: GOZAG Academy

2017
Simone Beck (Team Vice-Captain)League of LegendsValhalla
Amone BekkerLeague of LegendsIntensity Esports
Leana JacksonLeague of LegendsValhalla
Angelique RamosLeague of LegendsValhalla
Esmari Swart (Vice Captain)Counter-Strike: GOIntensity Esports
Jade ThomasLeague of LegendsValhalla
Marisa van der WesthuizenCounter-Strike: GOIntensity Esports

2016
Joline BicoFIFA ‘16HTS Witbank
Maryke KennardLeague of LegendsTuks University

2015
Maryke Kennard (Team Captain)League of LegendsTuks Mindsports
Elisha RetiefWargamesOld Edwardian Mind Sports Club

2014
Morizane BoyesTekken Tag Tournament IIBNKR Gaming
Elisha RetiefWargamesOld Edwardian Mind Sports Club
Yolandi WilliamsStarCraft IISnaz Gaming

2013
Lyrene Kühn (Team Captain)Tekken Tag Tournament IIKnights Mind Sports
Yolandi WilliamsStarCraft IIVeneration

2012
Gabriella IsaacsStarCraft IISAHETI
Lyrene KühnTekken Tag Tournament IIKnights Mind Sports

2011
Olivia BurtonTextingKnights Mind Sports Club
Ginny DalyManagerKnights Mind Sports
2010Michelle MarderManager - Guitar HeroKnights Mind Sports Club

2009
Kgothatso MoeraneTextingTuks Mindsports
Natalie WitoslawskiTextingTuks Mindsports
2007Bernice BőhmWargamesOld Edwardian Mind Sports Club

2006
Bernice BőhmWargamesOld Edwardian Mind Sports Club
Liesl HarmseWargamesAlgoa Wargames Club
2005Bernice BőhmWargamesOld Edwardian Mind Sports Club
Joann StathoussisManagerPeninsula Wargames
2003Melissa Kupczyk (Junior)WargamesOld Edwardian Mind Sports Club
2002Teresa Chen (Junior)MorabarabaMaritzburg Girls High
Melissa Kupczyk (Junior)WargamesOld Edwardian Mind Sports Club
1996Sylvia WebsterMorabarabaOld Edwardian Mind Sports Club

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