Finnish eSports Federation receives a grant, and StarCraft 2 ex-pro begins coach training

Logo of Suomen elektronisen urheilun liitto - SEUL ry

Grant awarded to Finnish eSports Federation by government 

Finnish Ministry of Culture and Education released the grant amounts for national youth work organizations on January 25th. New Minister of Culture and Education Sanni Grahn-Laasonen has granted total of 3.2 million euros for total of 55 national youth work organizations for fiscal year 2016.

Finnish eSports Federation (SEUL) was once again one of the ten largest beneficiaries placing 9th this year, receiving 83 000 euros which meant 15 000 euro raise in the grant amount compared to the last year. 2016 is fourth year in a row in which Minister of Culture and Education has approved a grant for the national eSports Federation.

Finnish ex-pro player begins coach training 

Finnish ex-pro StarCraft 2 player Samuli “elfi” Sihvonen has been accepted for coach training in Vierumäki campus of The Sport Institute of Finland. Sihvonen begins his yearlong course on 17th of February and aims to be the first professional e-sports coach.

“During my player career I noticed that coaching would be really beneficial especially on the mental side of the sports. Currently there are no Finnish e-sports coaches so after ending my player career I started to think if I could become one. My goal is to give better possibilities for new rising stars with support that I was missing.” commented Sihvonen.

Finnish eSports Federation supports Sihvonen with a stipend that covers the cost of the coach training course and aims to use this training as a pilot program to find out valuable information how traditional sports training can be implemented in e-sports.

“Samuli’s application was noticed immediately when it arrived and we are really excited about the possibilities and views e-sports could bring with it.“ commented training center deputy director Raino Nieminen from Vierumäki.  
 
Sihvonen’s player career started in mid-2000’s and became known as a world class StarCraft 2 player. During his career he represented such organizations as Fnatic, Team Acer, ENCE eSports and Vega Squadron. Sihvonen was awarded as “The Player of the Year 2012” by Finnish eSports Federation.

Before applying for the coach training Sihvonen has organized two weekend-long StarCraft 2 training camps and has engaged in personal training of younger players. Camps organized in December 2014 and February 2015 received overwhelmingly positive feedback and reception.

For additional information and photos contact

Erkka Jouste erkka.jouste@seul.fi  President Finnish eSports Federation / Suomen elektronisen urheilun liitto - SEUL ry

Ghana has an eSports federation!

First there was South Africa, then Namibia, which was quickly followed by Egypt, Zimbabwe, and Tunisia that created National eSports Federations.

However, now there is Ghana under the leadership of the ever energetic Ebenezer Kwesi Hayford.

The Ghanaian eSports Association, which is only one-year old and based in the city of Accra, has already successfully applied for membership of the Confederation of African eSports (CAeS) and is hoping to be accepted into membership of the International eSports Federation (IeSF) later this year.

With the inclusion of Ghana into CAeS, eSports takes another  step forward to be included in the All African Games and further helps create a greater awareness of  eSports as a fully accredited sport among African states.

The addition of yet another African State will also further help Africa compete on a wider international level.

eSports growth

Team Serbia - 2015 World Championships

TELKOM has pushed in a huge cash injection of one million Rands (R1,000,000.00) into the Digital Gaming League for the game title of CounterStrike: GO and DotA 2.

This is a huge development in gaming in South Africa as it further emphasises the growth and continuing popularity of eSports in South Africa.

The growth of eSports should be of no surprise to anyone. eSports is probably one of the most accessible sports to the public, and in spite of the initial cost of hardware, still one of the most cost effective sports in which a person can partake.

Thus the growth of eSports in South Africa can clearly be seen at school level, where Mind Sports SouthAfrica's official league is showing exponential growth as schools clamber to get on board.

The growing number of gamers, and the resulting increase in competitiveness, has meant that South Africa can hold its head high in international competition.

South Africa's current ranking by the International eSports Federation is at 12^th place due to the MWEB Protea eSports team that participated in the IeSF's 7th World Championships - Seoul.

HISTORY OF INTERNATIONAL PARTICIPATION

From left to right: Mluleki George, Gilbert Magabotse, Steve Tshwete

From the day that MSSA started in 1985, it was MSSA's intention to get players overseas for the various disciplines for which it is the custodian.

Even as early as 1991, even though the sports moratorium was in place, MSSA tentavely started sending teams to international events. However, when the sports moratorium was lifted in 1994, MSSA started to aggressively send teams overseas for wargames, checkers, draughts, and morabaraba.

However, it was not until 2005 that  MSSA started to send eSports teams overseas.

South Africa is proud to have produced the following WORLD CHAMPIONS, being;

Period	Year	Name	Club
Ancients – Men	2012 2013 2014 2015	Eugene Burger Colin Webster Colin Webster Colin Webster	Maritzburg Christian College Old Edwardian Wargames Club Old Edwardian Wargames Club Old Edwardian Wargames Club
Ancients – Women	2006 2007 2014 2015	Bernice Ligault Bernice Ligault Elishia Retief Elishia Retief	Old Edwardian Wargames Club Old Edwardian Wargames Club Old Edwardian Wargames Club Old Edwardian Wargames Club
Ancients - Junior	2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2009 2010 2012 2014 2015	Andre Tonkin Matthew Strachan Benjamin Shulman Angelo Stathoussis Angelo Stathoussis Angelo Stathoussis Duane Havenga Gregory Laycock Gregory Laycock Jason Batzofin Jason Batzofin	Krugersdorp High School Old Edwardian Wargames Club Old Edwardian Wargames Club Peninsula Wargames Group Peninsula Wargames Group Peninsula Wargames Group Pretoria Boys High Pretoria Boys High Pretoria Boys High St John's College St John's College
eSports	2005	Logan Brooke-Smith	Exactmobile
Morabaraba - Senior	1997 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2007 2012 2013	Gilbert Magabotse Amos Mavuso David Hlophe David Hlophe Simon Skhosana Simphiwe Maphumulo Moses Rannyadi Simphiwe Maphumulo Simphiwe Maphumulo	Spoornet Morabaraba ClubSpoornet Morabaraba Club Leandra Giant Killers Leandra Giant Killers Leandra Giant Killers Alexandra High School Impala Plats. Barbarians Club Zola Checkers Club
Morabaraba - Junior	2002 2003 2005 2007	Innocent Khubeka Simphiwe Maphumulo Teresa Chen Innocent Khubeka	Leandra Giant Killers Alexandra High School Maritzburg Girl’s High Leandra Giant Killers
Pike & Shot - Senior	2002 2009	Edward van Trotsenburg Edward v. Trotsenburg	Technikon Witwatersrand Bedfordview Mind Sports Club

One can only wonder...

'Loda' in South Africa in 2008

Every December and January,  South Africa television stations are awash with cricket.

Don't get me wrong, I find cricket to be nice enough. I mean, even some of my best friends have,  and do, play  cricket.

Why, I have even introduced SK Gaming to  the game.

Yes, SK Gaming played the Protea eSports Team in cricket inn 2008, and even though bvd_Cent was there to help the Protea eSports Team, the Swedes still chalked up an impressive victory....

But I  digress!

The point  is, while watching the  seemingly endless hours of coverage, my mind wandered.

Would not ANY other sport be as popular, or perhaps even more so if they received the same amount of coverage as cricket?

The answer is undeniably, yes for many sports.

Several years ago SASCOC stated that  it was going  to start its own TV channel. I do not think that there was a voice in opposition to that noble statement.

Unfortunately it was not to be. The idea seem to die on the board-room table, and nothing more about it was ever said again.

Certainly I believe that there is room for a dedicated sports channel. There is more than enough content, and, with over 100 sporting codes, the channel will have a huge following.

Date for eSports National Team Trials has been set - 4 June 2015

MSSA takes international eSports  events seriously,  and  international events take MSSA seriously in return.

Thus after participating in 33 international eSports events since 2005, South Africa is currently  ranked as 13th in the world by the International eSports Federation (IeSF).

Every year there are also refinements to the National Team Trials in order to produce a more competitive team while balancing the development of the skills base of  the team with  the development of players in terms of the national priorities of  the country.

To better prepare the team, MSSA's Management Board has agreed to hold 'Trials' for its eSports Team on 4 June 2016 to  allow  for better training and preparation ahead of the grueling international competition that  awaits the 2016 Protea eSports Teams.

MSSA's  Calendar of  Events for the 2016 year may be found on: https://www.facebook.com/notes/mind-sports-south-africa-mssa/2016-calendar-of-events/10153604662787264

Now that's dedication!

2009 LG Mobile Gaming Team (Natalie Witoslawski and Kgothatso Moerane from Tuks University)

From the day that the MSSA started in 1985, it was MSSA's intention to get players overseas for the various disciplines for which it is the custodian.

Even as early as 1991, even though the sports moratorium was in place, MSSA tentavely started sending teams to international events. However, when the sports moratorium was lifted in 1994, MSSA started to aggressively send teams overseas for wargames, checkers, draughts, and morabaraba.

However, it was not until 2005 that  MSSA started to send eSports teams overseas as the following schedule will demonstrate:

Date	Event	Games titles
2005	World Cyber Games – South Korea	Mobile games
2006	Asian Championships - Taiwan	BF 2142
2007	World Cyber Games – USA	Red Alert
2008	Continental Championships – Johannesburg, Romania	COD 4, DotA
2009	World Cyber Games – Chendu, China	Guitar Hero
2009	Dreamhack – Denmark	FIFA '09
2009	IeSF Challenge – Taebeck, South Korea	FIFA Online, WarCraft III
2010	Hyundai FIFA '10™ International Challenge – South Korea	FIFA Online
2010	LG Mobile World championships – New York, USA	Mobile gaming
2010	Hyundai FIFA '10™ International Challenge – Busan, South Korea	FIFA Online
2010	IeSF World Championships – Daegu, South Korea	FIFA Online, WarCraft III
2010	World Cyber Games – San Fransisco, USA	Guitar Hero
2010	Test match between Namibia and South Africa – Windhoek	COD 4, FIFA '10
2011	LG Mobile World championships – New York, USA	Mobile gaming
2011	IeSF World Championships – Andong, South Korea	FIFA Online, StarCraft II
2011	IeSMoD World Championships – JeJu, South Korea	Kart, StarCraft II
2012	Nation's Cup – Online International Championships	BF3
2012	IeSF World Championships – Cheonan, South Korea	StarCraft II, Tekken TT II
2013	Nation's Cup – Online International Championships	BF3
2013	South Africa vs Romania Test Match – Johannesburg, South Africa	StarCraft II
2013	South Africa vs Romania Online Test Match – Online	DotA 2
2013	South Africa vs Mexico Online Test Match – Online	DotA 2
2013	Tri-nations between Denmark, Israel, and South Africa - Online	DotA 2
2013	DreamHack - Bucharest, Romania	StarCraft II
2013	IeSF World Championships – Bucharest, Romania	League of Legends, StarCraft II, Tekken TTII
2014	South Africa vs Egypt Online Test Match – Online	DotA 2
2014	South Africa vs Finland Online Test Match – Online	StarCraft II
2014	South Africa vs Finland Online Test Match – Online	DotA 2
2014	South Africa vs Namibia Online Test Match – Online	DotA 2
2014	IeSF World Championships – Baku, Azerbijan	DotA 2, HearthStone, StarCraft II, Tekken Tag Tournament II
2015	South Africa vs Zimbabwe Online Test Match – Online	FIFA '15
2015	South Africa vs Austria Online Test Match – Online	FIFA '15
2015	South Africa vs Israel Online Test Match – Online	League of Legends
2015	EFRAG World Championships - Online	CounterStrike: GO
2015	IeSF World Championships – Seoul, South Korea	League of Legends, HearthStone, StarCraft II,

The sheer amount of man-hours committed to making these events  work is mind-boggling.

Full credit must be  given to those  MSSA volunteers who have  made all these events happen.

Based on the above, 2016 will be an interesting year.

Volunteers wanted

MSSA requires volunteers for the following positions:

• 1st Vice-President
• Board Gaming Representative
• Card Gaming Representative
• National Schools Director

Since volunteers shall be co-opted onto the Management Board, the term of office shall only be one year instead of the full three year term.

If you are interested in doing some work for the betterment of all, please get your club to nominate you by 29 January 2016.

Tuks MindSports Club

It has come to my  attention that the Tuks MindSports Club has a new facebook presence, being: https://www.facebook.com/groups/970831249649816/

This is the club that has begun a total domination of South African gaming.

In the club's brief history, it, and its members, have won the following titles:

2014 Gauteng Dota 2 Championships
2014 Gauteng League of Legends Championships
2014 Gauteng Morabaraba Championships
2014 South African National Dota 2 Championships
2014 South African National League of Legends Championships
2014 South African National Ancients Wargames Championships
2015 Gauteng Dota 2 Championships
2015 Gauteng League of Legends Championships
2015 Mpumulanga Ancients Wargames Championships
2015 Mpumulanga League of Legends Championships
2015 South African National League of Legends Championships
2015 South African National Checkers (mens) Championships
2015 South African National Checkers (female) Championships

It is going to be really exciting to see what the club achieves in 2016.

There's one more angel...

'Ykie' and 'Aphrodite'

Maryke 'Ykie' Kennard who achieved so much at the 2015 IeSF World Championship - Seoul as part of the MWEB Protea eSports Team has departed our shores for even sunnier climes.

Yes, indeed, Maryke has left South Africa in favour of Bahrain. 

Maryke was interviewed by Gamezone about the move.

In such interview, Maryke dealt with the topics of: 

• Her achievements
• 2015 IeSF World Championship - Seoul
• Shoutcasting at the 2015 IeSF World Championship - Seoul
• Affiliation to MSSA, and
• Her future.

Certainly MSSA, and all its members, wishes Maryke all the best. 

Maryke leaves a huge gap in South Africa, and only the very best will be  able to fill her shoes.

Is it possible?

This is an interesting query received:

"Is it possible for a team to affiliate with MSSA alone and not my whole team? in other words, may my team affiliate and not my whole organisation?"

I presume from the question, that the writer runs several teams. If that is the case, then the following scenario may be possible: Let's presume that there are two teams where one team is not willing to affiliate to MSSA and the other is willing to affiliate. The team that is willing to affiliate thus constitutes itself as a club and affiliates where the other doesn't. The issue then really depends on what sort of structure in which the two teams operate, and whether the structure of the team management allows that to happen.

May I affiliate my team?

The following question was received:

"Is it possible for a team to affiliate with MSSA alone and not my whole team?"

I presume from the question, that you run several teams. If that is the case, then the following scenario may be possible: Let's presume you run two teams where one team is not willing to affiliate to MSSA and the other is willing to affiliate. The team that is willing to affiliate thus constitutes itself as a club and affiliates where the other doesn't. The issue then really depends on what sort of structure in which the two teams operate, and whether the structure of the team management allows that to happen.

Question just in....

How is this for a  recent question?

"I  really want to play for the national  team. I realise that it  is my only chance to go overseas and be noticed. Unfortunately my team owner (redacted) has signed a contract with its sponsors that forbids me and all other team members to play for a team  that is not sponsored by that  sponsor. The team owner also refuses to allow the team to take part in MSSA events".

Well, this  is a very complex legal  issue.

If the team owner has signed a contract with  the team's sponsors that  the team members may only play for a team sponsored by such sponsor, then, short of resigning from such team, the player concerned will not be able to play for the national team  if such sponsor does not also sponsor the national team as well.

Also, if the team owner does not want his team to participate in MSSA events, that is his  choice entirely.

However, why anyone would play for such a team is beyond me as the players will be forfeiting many opportunities and limiting their own futures.

Players need to look at their opportunities in both the short-term and the long-term.

However, it must be noted that  a team that is 'owned' by any one individual would not be able to affiliate to MSSA.

MSSA is a non-profit organisation, and only other non-profit organisations may affiliate to MSSA.

Of course is a player is playing for an organisation that  is other than a non-profit  organisation, it could also then be argued that the player is employed by such owner/company. It such a case the Basic Employment Act would apply and the players would be entitled to all sorts of benefits -- including a salary.

Happy 2016!

May I play?

A couple of days ago, I received a query from a gamer asking:

"May my team play in both MSSA championships and in TELKOM gaming?"

The short answer is, yes!

For many years  there has been quite a bit of inaccurate information given out by gamers that if a team played in MSSA events, such team would not be allowed to play  in other events.

THIS IS QUITE UNTRUE, and always has  been!

Any team affiliated to a club affiliated to MSSA may play in any league/championship/competition.

The Calendar  of Events for 2016 is:

2016 Calendar of events

Date	Event	Discipline	Venue
13 & 14 FEB	OE Summer Championships	Ancients (500pts), Draughts, Morabaraba	Blue Room, Old Edwardian Society, 11 Ninth Ave, Lower Houghton, Jhb
20 FEBRUARY	On-line Inter-school Provincial Championships	CS:GO, DotA, FIFA, HearthStone, LOL, SC, TTT II	On-line
5 & 6 MARCH	20th NORTH WEST Championships	All	TBA
26 & 27 MARCH	33rd GAUTENG Championships	All	TBA
9 & 10 APRIL	Provincial School Championships	Board and Figure games	TBA
16 APRIL	Dota 2 Online Championships CounterStrike GO, League of Legends	eSports (PC)	On-line
30 APRIL & 1 MAY	22nd KWAZULU NATAL Championships	All	TBA
28 & 29 MAY	15th MPUMALANGA Championships	All	TBA
28 MAY	FINANCIAL AGM	Meeting	TBA
25 & 26 JUNE	13th FREE STATE Championships	All	TBA
23 JULY	City of Johannesburg Regionnal Championships	* Ancients 200AP (DBM v3.2) * FIFA '16, * Morabaraba * Tekken Tag Tournament II	Blue Room, Old Edwardian Society, 11 Ninth Ave, Lower Houghton, Jhb
30 & 31 JULY	SA School Championships	Board, Figure and eSports	Cape Town
13 AUGUST	StarCraft II, Hearthstone	eSports (PC)	On-line
27 & 28 AUGUST	21st WESTERN CAPE Championships	All	TBA
TBA	Indigenous Games	Morabaraba	To be determined by SRSA
24 & 25 SEPTEMBER	16th EASTERN CAPE Championships	All	TBA
29 & 30 OCTOBER	6th LIMPOPO Championships	All	TBA
3 & 4 DECEMBER	30th S A NATIONAL Championships	All	TBA
4 DECEMBER	33rd NATIONAL CONVENTION	Annual General Meeting	As per 30th S A NATIONAL Championships
TBA	SRSA's S A Schools Championships	Morabaraba	To be determined by SRSA

Notes:

1. International events still need to be included.
2. Inter-Provincial events need to be included
3. Inter-regional events need to be included
4. Club events need to be included
5. Regional Championships need to be included.
6. Free State is moved to earlier in the year.
7. National Team Trials still need to be included