THE MSSA’S VISION FOR eSPORTS

From the day that the MSSA was founded (1984), the MSSA has had to fight to have the games that the MSSA promotes to be recognised to be accredited as equals to any of the other sports that exist in South Africa.

The MSSA was thus accepted into membership of the following:

• The Confederation of South African Sport (COSAS) in 1991
• T he National Olympic Sports Council of South Africa (NOCSA) in 1991
• The National Sports Council (NSC) in 1994. The NSC was the end result of COSAS and NOCSA merging.
• The South African Sports Commission (SASC) 1999 until dissolved
• The South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) in 2005. 

Springbok colours

The breakthrough happened in 1991 when the MSSA was allowed to award Springbok Colours to its wargames team. The MSSA awarded Springbok Colours for the period 1991 to 1994.

In 1994 the MSSA participated in the NSC meeting that was immortalised in the film named 'Invictus' whereat the National Federations assembled agreed to replace the Springbok with the Protea.

In 1997, the MSSA awarded Protea Colours to its Morabaraba team, and in 2001 the MSSA was allowed to award Protea Colours to the players who represented South Africa for Checkers.

Protea badge

However, it was not until 2005 that the MSSA was granted permission by the Protea Colours Board for Computer Gaming.

It should be noted that the Protea Colours awarded are the same as awarded to cricket, rugby, swimming, etc.

Even though the mere act of awarding colours is laudable in itself, in that players who receive such colours are enable to apply for, and receive, bursaries at universities, the MSSA’s vision does not end there.

The MSSA is a member of the International eSports Federation (IeSF). In 2010, the MSSA help found the IeDF (the international federation for gamers with disabilities). Through such affiliation the groundwork has been done to have eSports established and accredited as an international sport by the General Assembly of International Sport Federations (GAISF). When the GAISF accepts eSports as an international Sport, a whole new era will be ushered in as the games will be allowed to participate in the International Mind Sports Association’s Games, and be included in the All Africa Games, the Commonwealth Games, and possibly even in the Olympic Games.