Do online competitions mean anything?

LAN championships are far more efficient in terms of providing accurate results.

Over the past number of days, or for that matter, over the past number of years, esports has seen problem after problem with online competitions.

It is very difficult to ensure that the person who is playing in an online championship actually is the person who should be playing.

As a result, even overseas, there is a declining interest in online championships in favour of offline LAN championships which have taken esports to new heights.

Part of the problem must rest squarely on the process and conduct of the offline championships.

There are ways to ensure the validity and integrity of an online competition, but that involves a great deal of control and effort.

It was for that reason that MSSA jettisoned its online league, which was copied by a local telecom provider, in favour of concentrating on its LAN championships. The LAN championships, although more costly to deliver, are far more efficient in terms of providing accurate results which may be used by esports athletes to determine their true abilities./

However, MSSA has maintained certain online leagues and championships, but these are able to be controlled to a far greater extent to ensure the validity of the results.

MSSA's Online Schools League is just one such online competition which delivers results that may be trusted and used for the award of provincial colours and entry to MSSA's National Team Trials.

Without the controls in place, well, in my opinion, an online competition has very little value.

Also read:

Closing date for entries announced for MSSA's Inter-School League.

Gauteng Sport Awards 2018

Gauteng Province always goes all-out on its  'Sport Awards Gauteng'.

It is that time of the year when the Gauteng Department of Sport, Arts ,Culture and Recreation, has called for nominations for their 'Sport Awards Gauteng' brand. The awards are to reward the Province’s sports stars for their efforts in keeping the passion of sport alive in the hearts of millions of South Africans through their efforts in local and international sports events. 

The main aim is to recognise and honour individuals and teams who have excelled both on and off the field on an annual basis which will culminate to the National Awards. As usual South Africa Mind Sports (MSSA) shall make nominations to further highlight its top players in the fields of Checkers, Morabaraba, Esports, etc

For the 2018 Awards, the period to be considered is between: 1 July 2017 to 30 June 2018. 

The following categories will be considered for the 2018 awards: 

1. Sportsman of the Year 
2. Sportswoman of the Year 
3. Sport Team of the Year 
4. Disabled Sportswoman of the Year 
5. Disabled Sportsman of the Year
6. Disabled Sports Team of the Year
7. Most promising athlete of the year 
8. School sport athlete of the year : New Category 
9. Most promising team of the year 
10. Community based sport and recreation programme of the year: New Category 
11. Coach of the Year 
12. Technical Official of Year 
13. Administrator of the Year 
14. Sport Fan of the year 
15. Sport Journalist of the year • This includes print media, radio and television 
16. Sport Programme of the year 
17. Community Media of the year (print, radio and television) New Category
18. Lifetime Achievement award 
19. Sport Personality of the Year

The nomination process was opened for the period starting from 07 June 2018 to allow enough time for the nomination process and public participation, with the closing date for nomination being the 07th July 2017.

Generic nominations criteria

• Nominee must be a Gauteng resident/citizen (including migrant)
• Period to be considered is between 1 July 2017 to 30 June 2018
• Nominees (athletes, coaches and technical officials) must be a registered member of a Gauteng sporting organization for the specified time of consideration.
• Nominations will only be accepted on the official nomination forms
• Nominations forms to be accompanied by extra supporting documentation (Profiles, Testimonial, Photos, etc.), for an added advantage.
• No nominations will be accepted after the closing date (7 th July 2018 at 16h00) 

For further information, please see:

www.gauteng.gov.za/government/departments/sport/Pages/Forms.aspx?RootFolder=/government/departments/sport/Forms/Gauteng%20Sport%20Awards%20Nomination&FolderCTID=0x0120002A522F34D2E63047A43F1542873C17C5&View={A3C45E3A-9CE8-45C6-B0F5-0526511A1690}

TOP 10 SA FEMALE MORABARABA RANKINGS REVEALED

Sebolelo Motlhabi (North West University – Vaal) making her move.

North West University – Vaal student, Sebolelo Motlhabi, enjoys a comfortable lead at the top of SA’s Top Female Morabaraba Rankings unveiled by Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA).

MSSA is aware of the potential of what Morabaraba can offer all females. As such MSSA has been promoting female participation right from the start. At first, there was a body of gamers that resisted MSSA’s moves, but reason has held sway in that they too see the obvious advantages of seeing greater female participation and now even hold such types of championships as if it were their idea.

The current rankings to be used at MSSA’s 15th Free State Provincial Championships take into account all the provincial championships played to date in 2018 such as the Gauteng, North West, and Mpumulanga Provincial Championships.

MSSA’s 15th Free State Provincial Championships shall be held at Fakkel School of Skills, 20 Jan Smuts Ave., Sasolburg on 23 June 2018.

Such championships count towards qualifying for MSSA’s 2019 National Team Trials.

Leading Female Rankings – Morabaraba:

Pos	Name of Player	year	Club	Points
1	Sebolelo Motlhabi	18	North West University – Vaal	245.8
2	Saudah Bhaimia	18	Curro Klerksdorp	157.7
3	Thandi Ngoveni	17	THS Tom Naude	125.2
4	Paula Loftus	17	Masters of Mind Sports	125.2
5	Nombulelo Gavin	16	Fakkel School	123.3
6	Kaitlin Madramoothu	18	Curro Klerksdorp	119.6
7	Anne-Lee Steyn	17	JCS Academy	108.4
8	Natelene Burger	17	JCS Academy	105.5
9	Michelle Mensah	17	THS Tom Naude	90.2
10	Simoné Otto	17	THS Tom Naude	89.8

Other official rankings produced by MSSA are as follows:

• Senior Ancients Wargames
• Senior Checkers
• Senior CounterStrike: GO
• Senior DotA 2
• Senior FIFA '18
• Senior HearthStone
• Senior Injustice 2
• Senior League of Legends (female)
• Senior League of Legends
• Senior Morabaraba (female)
• Senior Morabaraba
• Senior Mortal Kombat X
• Senior Pro Evolution Soccer (PES)
• Senior StarCraft II
• Senior Street Fighter V
• Senior Tekken 7 (female)
• Senior Tekken 7
• Schools CounterStrike: GO
• Schools DotA 2
• Schools FIFA
• Schools HearthStone
• Schools League of Legends

STRUCTURE OF MIND SPORTS SOUTH AFRICA

How it all fits in...

Mind Sports South Africa is a fully constituted Universitas in terms of all current South African legislation.

Thus the MSSA is an unincorporated Association not for gain.

As such the MSSA operates as any other National Federation, whether it be the South African Football Association (SAFA), the South African Rugby Board (SARB), Swimming South Africa (SSA), Cricket South Africa (CSA), etc., as sport in South Africa is conducted by unincorporated voluntary associations formed in terms of the Companies Act.

The MSSA has as its highest authority its Annual General Meeting which holds all Committees accountable for their actions.

The Executive Committee, meets a minimum of twice a year, and requires a full report from the Management Board.

The Management Board deals with the day-to-day operations of the MSSA and overseas the different Boards of Control.

Clubs are directly affiliated to the MSSA which ensures that there is greater transparency and inclusion.

North West University (Vaal) dominates South Africa's Morabaraba rankings.

Siyabonga Mogale - leading the pack.

With MSSA's 15th Free State Provincial Championships only days away, Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA) has just released the official national ranking for the game of Morabaraba.
The current rankings to be used at MSSA's 15th Free State Provincial Championships take into account all the provincial championships played to date in 2018 such as the Gauteng, North West, and Mpumalanga Provincial Championships.

MSSA's 15th Free State Provincial Championships shall be held at Fakkel School of Skills, 20 Jan Smuts Ave., Sasolburg on 23 and 24 June 2018.

Such championships count towards qualifying for MSSA's 2019 National Team Trials.

The game of Morabaraba is now totally dominated by North West University (Vaal) with Siyabonga Mogale, Sebolelo Motlhabi and Joseph Matlong capturing the top three places in the rankings.

The game of Morabaraba remains one of the most popular recreational game in South Africa with an enormous 40% of the population playing the game on a recreational level.

There is no doubt that the game is ancient in terms of its origin, educational in purpose with a very strong mathematical base, but most of all is FUN TO PLAY.

The rankings for the Morabaraba esports title are as follows:

Pos	Name of Player	year	Club	Points
1	Siyabonga Mogale	18	North West University – Vaal	430.6
2	Sebolelo Motlhabi	18	North West University – Vaal	245.8
3	Joseph Matlong	18	North West University – Vaal	225
4	Kamohlelo Tladi	18	Fakkel School of Skills	218
5	Jarren Smith	18	JCS Academy	175.1
6	Saudah Bhaimia	18	Curro Klerksdorp	157.7
7	Cobus van der Wath	17	Fakkel School of Skills	136.5
8	Mutehuthu Miswelem	17	JCS Academy	131.4
9	Junior Mpembe	18	Fakkel School of Skills	129.8
10	Johannes Makau	16	All Stars	125.2
11	Thandi Ngoveni	17	THS Tom Naude	125.2
12	Gideon Jannasch	16	Fakkel School of Skills	125.2
13	Mussie Cabreab	17	Northwood High School	125.2
14	Johnre Duvenhage	17	THS Tom Naude	125.2
15	Paula Loftus	17	Masters of Mind Sports	125.2
16	Bradley Duckham	17	Maritzburg College	125.2
17	Hendrich Roets	17	THS Tom Naude	125.2
18	Tshepo Matitcerane	17	Fakkel School of Skills	125.2
19	Komahelo Molaetsa	17	Fakkel School of Skills	125.2
20	Damian Pinn	17	THS Tom Naude	125.2
21	Dondo Mukhithi	18	Curro Klerksdorp	124.6
22	Nombulelo Gavin	16	Fakkel School	123.3
23	Korben Roos	17	HTS Witbank	122.5
24	Kaitlin Madramoothu	18	Curro Klerksdorp	119.6
25	Lefa Lekhula	18	Fakkel School of Skills	115.2
26	Mukhathutshelo Masle	17	Masters of Mind Sports	114.2
27	Khanyisa Sibanda	18	JCS Academy	109.2
28	Anne-Lee Steyn	17	JCS Academy	108.4
29	Natelene Burger	17	JCS Academy	105.5
30	Sam Kotsoane	18	Fakkel School of Skills	105
31	Boyi Mantso	18	Fakkel SOS	98.7
32	Neo Mokoena	18	Fakkel School of Skills	98.3
33	Bruce Burke	17	JCS Academy	97.5
34	Xavier Ferreira	17	JCS Academy	94.1
35	Mukha Masheleni	16	Masters of Mind Sports	92.5
36	Michelle Mensah	17	THS Tom Naude	90.2
37	Simoné Otto	17	THS Tom Naude	89.8
38	Khanyisa Sibanda	17	Fakkel School of Skills	87.9
39	Khuthutshelo Masheleni	16	Masters of Mind Sports	85
40	Dion Du Preez	17	All Stars	85
41	Joel van Wyk	17	All Stars	69.4

Other official rankings produced by MSSA are as follows:

• Senior Ancients Wargames
• Senior Checkers
• Senior CounterStrike: GO
• Senior DotA 2
• Senior FIFA '18
• Senior HearthStone
• Senior Injustice 2
• Senior League of Legends (female)
• Senior League of Legends
• Senior Morabaraba
• Senior Mortal Kombat X
• Senior Pro Evolution Soccer (PES)
• Senior StarCraft II
• Senior Street Fighter V
• Senior Tekken 7 (female)
• Senior Tekken 7
• Schools CounterStrike: GO
• Schools DotA 2
• Schools FIFA
• Schools HearthStone
• Schools League of Legends