Sunday, 8 February 2026

Whether 'tis fear....

 

The impressive Matthew Raubach (Capt.) of the Protea Esports Team for the DotA 2 esports title.

On Saturday, 7 February 2026, South Africa was drawn against both Botswana and Zambia in the Reqional Qualifiers for Global Esports Federation's (GEF) GEG25 World Finals to be held in Mumbai, India, from 26 February to 1 March 2026.

Unfortunately neither team pitched at the allotted time and the South African Protea Esports Team for the DotA 2 esports title were credited with the wins.

No-one is ever happy to  take a win this way - especially when South Africa has such a strong team, but maybe that's why they didn't show....

Today, Sunday, 8 February 2026, the team, clad in battle gear are ready for their two opponents being Namibia at 16H00 and Malawi at 21H00.

The Protea DotA2 Esports Team is as follows:

TitleNameClubNickProvince
DotA 2
Matthew Raubach (Capt.)ZAG AcademybeeGauteng
Callum FosterZAG Academysk3pWestern Cape
Lennard KoekemoerZAG AcademyremedyGauteng
Berend van StadenZAG AcademyBerendGauteng
Suhail KhanZAG AcademySoupGauteng
ManagerJohan van BredaZAG Academy-Gauteng

Additional reading:

Athlete's rights:
Employment opportunities

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Even Titans fall!

Zaid Williams (Protea Team Member) gave it his all and finished in the top eight.

In esports, thousands of players grind every day hoping to get noticed. Most of them are talented, but only a few ever reach the competitive level. The difference is not always skill—often it is strategy. Being an unknown player does not mean you are doomed. It simply means you must approach your improvement and exposure more intelligently than players who already have attention.

Success in esports is built through a combination of performance, consistency, and visibility. If you can develop all three, you can turn yourself from an anonymous ranked player into someone teams take seriously.

Thus, top esports athletes can never rest on their laurels. There is always a David to a Goliath, and sometimes there are even several Davids!

So it was on 7 February 2026 when Zaid Williams took to the field!

Zaid went down to Burkina Faso, then won against the DR Congo, and then, only to lose against Lesotho to have to bow out of the championship while in the top eight.

Although disappointed, Zaid stated, "I’ll take it as a lesson, I’ll do even better in the next one!"

Fighting talk indeed, and this is exactly what MSSA expects in terms of the character of its top Protea Esports athletes.

The games were streamed by Waylander Gaming, and can still be seen on: https://youtube.com/@waylander_gaming

In conclusion, unknown players can succeed in esports, but it requires more than talent. You need proof of skill, experience in competitive settings, a reputation for reliability, and a presence that makes it easy for others to notice you.

Climb ranked with consistency, compete in tournaments, build connections, and create a clear identity as a player. Most importantly, stay disciplined long enough for your results to speak louder than your name.

In esports, being unknown is temporary—if your performance and professionalism are strong enough to force people to remember you, and remember, as Zvi Katabi would always say, " When you are sleeping, someone else is training...".

Additional reading:

Athlete's rights:
Employment opportunities

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Saturday, 7 February 2026

Newly-affiliated Backgammon clubs are ready to get things rolling…

Doron Claxton, from Cape Town, deep in thought in his semi-final match at the Backgammon World Championship.

Cape Town Backgammon is proud to formally announce its affiliation with Mind­ Sports South Africa (MSSA) — a meaningful milestone for our club and for backgammon in the Western Cape.

This affiliation recognises not only where Cape Town Backgammon is today, but also the steady, community-driven journey that has brought us here.

A decade of growth, community, and competition

Cape Town Backgammon was founded in June 2013 by two brothers with a simple idea: to create a regular, welcoming space to play backgammon in Cape Town. What began as informal local meet-ups has grown year on year into a structured and increasingly visible backgammon community.

Over the past decade, the club has:

  • Hosted live tournaments in Cape Town
  • Run online round-robin leagues, connecting players across regions
  • Introduced annual awards celebrating performance, improvement, and contribution to the community
  • Actively supported local players competing at international events

Perhaps most notably, Cape Town Backgammon proudly supported Doron Claxton, who reached the final of the Backgammon World Championships in Monte Carlo in 2025 — a landmark achievement for South African backgammon.

Mind sportS SA affiliation and the Cape Town Open 2026

Affiliation with MSSA represents an important step forward: aligning Cape Town Backgammon with recognised national structures, governance, and player pathways.

Our first major milestone under this affiliation will be the Cape Town Open, taking place from 20–22 February 2026, officially endorsed by MSSA as a Regional Championship.

In addition to the Open division, regional colours will be awarded to the best-performing players in the following categories:

  • Open
  • Female
  • Youth (U-25)
  • Junior (U-18)

This event is designed to showcase competitive excellence while also highlighting the inclusivity and developmental focus of backgammon as a recognised mindsport.

Growing the game — especially in schools

A central focus for Cape Town Backgammon is growing the game, particularly among younger players. We are actively committed to introducing backgammon into schools in Cape Town and surrounding areas, where it serves as a powerful tool for developing:

  • Strategic thinking
  • Probability awareness
  • Decision-making under uncertainty
  • Sportsmanship and resilience

Backgammon’s blend of skill, mathematics, and psychology makes it uniquely well suited to the educational space, and we see enormous potential for growth at grassroots level.

Social play in the city

Alongside structured competition, Cape Town Backgammon continues to host regular social evenings in the Cape Town CBD. These sessions are intentionally relaxed and inclusive — a perfect opportunity to:

  • Meet new people
  • Learn the game or improve your skills
  • Play casual or competitive matches in a friendly environment

Whether you’re a seasoned tournament player or completely new to backgammon, social nights remain the heartbeat of the club.

A connected, welcoming community

Our community extends well beyond Cape Town. Through active WhatsApp groups, Cape Town Backgammon players are closely connected with South African backgammon players across the country, as well as an international network of enthusiasts and competitors.

New members are always welcome — whether you’re curious about learning the game, looking for regular competition, or aiming to compete at national and international level.

Affiliation with MSSA marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for Cape Town Backgammon. We look forward to building stronger pathways for players, hosting high-quality events, and continuing to grow a vibrant backgammon community in Cape Town and beyond.

Additional reading:
Athlete's rights:
Employment opportunities

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#TuksSport is looking for a Deputy Director: Sports Operations Management

 


TuksSport looking for a Deputy Director: Sports Operations Management to join our dynamic team. This senior leadership role involves strategic leadership, general and financial management, human resource management, and club management across a multi-sport environment.

𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗺𝘂𝗺 𝗥𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀
✅ Postgraduate degree in Sport Management, Business Management, Human Movement Studies, Sports Law or a related field
✅ Minimum 8 years’ experience, including 3 years in management and leadership, within a multi-sport organisation (higher education institutions, federations, governing bodies, or professional sporting franchises)
✅ Additional experience within the public or private sports sector

𝗥𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗲𝘀
✔️ Advanced knowledge of club development and strategic & operational planning
✔️ Advanced knowledge of programme and project management
✔️ Extensive knowledge of facility management

𝗔𝗱𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝗔𝗱𝘃𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲𝘀
🔸 Master’s degree in a sport-related or management field
🔸 Certification in HR Management, Sport Business/Management, Project Management, or Leadership
🔸 5+ years’ experience in club and programme development
🔸 5+ years’ experience providing strategic direction in a professional commercial sport environment

𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐲 ➡️ Visit: ow.ly/4ZA050Y7HEp

Additional reading:
Athlete's rights:
Employment opportunities

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