Gearing up for 2019.

Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA) is gearing up for one of its biggest years ever.

2019 is pregnant with possibilities, and MSSA is aiming to take advantage of every single opportunity. MSSA's Management Board is enthusiastic and excited about 2019

Thus with MSSA's new financial year starting on 1 November 2018, MSSA again reminds all member clubs that they need to have paid their fees by 1 November 2018 should the member club wish to:

• Nominate Registered Players for office,
• Offer to host events in 2019, and
• Propose motions to be discussed at the AGM.

Member clubs also need to have paid their fees before the AGM should such Member Club wish to vote.

In order to count as paid-up, all a club has to do is have paid its annual affiliation fee of R100.00 and the Registration Fees of at least 3 players.

It is that easy...

Vote on which game title you want to see played in 2019.

Registered Players are invited to have their say.

Even though Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA) takes direction from its member clubs, MSSA still believes that it is important to listen directly to its players.

For such reason, the Players' Representative is directly elected by Registered Players (please see: The position of MSSA's Players' Representative is up for election at the 2018 SA National Championships.) in order to ensure that the member clubs truly represent the interests of their Registered Players, and to ensure that MSSA's Management Board also represents the wishes of the Registered Players.

It is for such reason that MSSA is also polling Registered Players for the choice of esports game titles to be played at the various levels of championships.

Thus there is a poll for the Premier, Student, and High School Championships and Leagues.

The polls may be found at:

• Premier: https://www.facebook.com/groups/MSSAeSports/
• Student: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1301596313316883/
• High School: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1676447775912809/

Only ten game titles shall be selected, so have your say.

An official Student Esports Championship is to start in 2019.

North West University is a loyal supporter of MSSA and already has racked up a number of records.

Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA) the organisation which is South africa's official national Federation for esports is about to create another first.

MSSA is renown for being a frontrunner which others attempt to emulate. Just some of the areas that MSSA has taken the lead are as follows:

• the first official online league in 2005,
• the first school league,
• the first school online championships,
• get esports accredited as a sport in 2005,
• send its first esports team as Proteas in 2005,
• start the first competition for females,
• become the first organisation to hold offline championships in more provinces and regions than any other,
• become the only organisation to hold esports championships every year since 1998, and
• have the only truly democratically elected committee.

However, MSSA is about to embark on another first.

2019 will see MSSA run its first official intervarsity championships.

The championship is only open to clubs that are recognised and legally allowed to use the name of the Universities at which the students study.

Already, MSSA is busy preparing to revise its rules to ensure that no student is left behind, and that all students who are at a tertiary level institution may partake in such championships whether they play only for the university or for another team as well.

For example, such rules will effectively allow a player who normally competes for a team like White Rabbit but also for Wits University (if such athlete is a registered student at Wits).

The championships shall also count towards Student Provincial Colours as well as for eligibility for MSSA's 2019 National Team Trials (NTT).

It is at the 2019 NTT that MSSA shall select the official Protea Team to attend IESF's 11th World Championships.

Protecting the rights of member clubs.

By protecting the rights of member clubs, the athletes' rights are also protected.

The greatest fear that a number of Registered players and member clubs has it that only one or two clubs will dominate Mind Sport South Africa’s Management Board.

It is highly unlikely that any one club will dominate MSSA’s Management Board because every member club that is fully-paid-up is not only able to propose candidates for election, but are also able to vote to decide which candidate is elected.

However, should any member club manage to get a greater amount of representation on the Management Board, it could be attributed to either the candidates being more popular, more competent, and/or more willing to take on the duties of office.

It should be noted though, that the Constitution also has a mechanism built into it to prevent any one club from gaining control over MSSA.

The mechanism is:

“Rule 9.7 No member shall be allowed to have more than 40% representation on the Management Board if other members have delegates who are standing for the available positions.”

MSSA’s Management Board has 16 positions. The 40% limit means that no club may have more than 6 members on the Management Board if other clubs have candidates standing for the Management Board.

It is in every member club’s best interests to ensure that no one club has too much representation on the Management Board. Too much representation by any one member club may lead to a clique on the Management Board which in turn may push the member club’s interests more than the interests of MSSA.

Currently the 2018 Management Board members are:

PRESIDENT	Amanda Pakade	Knights Mind Sports Club
VICE - PRESIDENTS	Leonard Loftus	Masters of Mind Sports
	Johan van Breda	ZAG Academy
	vacant
	vacant
	vacant
GENERAL SECRETARY	Colin Webster	Old Edwardian Mind Sports Club
WOMEN'S DESK:	Blair Hamberger	ZAG Academy
BOARD GAMING REPRESENTATIVE	Joseph Matlhong	NWU Vaal Mind Sports
CARD GAMING REPRESENTATIVE	Paula Loftus	Masters of Mind Sports
COMPUTER GAMING REPRESENTATIVE:	Angelique Ramos	Valhalla
WARGAMING REPRESENTATIVE	Terence Allwright	Old Edwardian Mind Sports Club
NATIONAL SCHOOLS DIRECTOR:	vacant
LEGAL ADVISOR	Carl Holliday	Pretoria Boys High School
DISABLED GAMER'S REPRESENTATIVE	Twane Tollemache	ZAG Academy
PLAYER’S REPRESENTATIVE	Jason Batzofin	Old Edwardian Mind Sports Club

Also read:

• Nominating Registered Players.

• Nominating Registered Players for the position of MSSA President.
• Conduct of elected officials.
• The position of MSSA's Players' Representative is up for election at the 2018 SA National Championships.
• Time to get your nominations in - deadline 1 November 2018

Nominating Registered Players.

The nomination form.

Making a nomination is the right and duty of every one of Mind Sports South Africa’s member clubs.

This makes MSSA quite unique in South African sporting circles as a Registered Player may rapidly rise in MSSA’s administration.

Such policy means that MSSA is always open to new ideas and is able to respond to the fast changing world in which it operates.

Thus any registered player who wishes to roll up his/her sleeves get involved in order to to make a difference is welcome to do so.

The positions all come with roles and responsibilities and all officials are expected to manage and execute their portfolios.

Thus all Registered Players should contact MSSA for such duties before they stand so that an educated judgement call can be made.

However, it should be noted that when an elected office-bearer asks for help, all others do lend a willing hand. After all, this is our passion, all elected officials want MSSA to succeed, grow and prosper.

Please remember that nominations must be submitted by 1 November 2018.

Also read:

• Nominating Registered Players for the position of MSSA President.
• Conduct of elected officials.
• The position of MSSA's Players' Representative is up for election at the 2018 SA National Championships.
• Time to get your nominations in - deadline 1 November 2018

Nominating Registered Players for the position of MSSA President.

Amanda Pakade - MSSA's current president.

Although every club may nominate Registered Players for positions on the Management Board, the Selection Committee, and for Provincial and Regional Directors, only one position is ‘ring-fenced’. Such position is that for the position of MSSA president.

Nevertheless, even though the position of MSSA president is ‘ring-fenced’, every member club may still nominate eligible candidates for such position, and may still vote at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) on the valid nominations.

Only Registered Players who have already fully served all their full terms for which they were elected to the Management Board may then stand for the position of MSSA president.

Even individuals who are no longer registered, but who meet the criteria and register before the 1 November 2018 deadline are able to stand for the position. In total there are 26 individuals who fall into this category.

A full list of current Registered Players may stand for the position of President are:

• Carl Holliday
• Amanda Pakade
• Era Schoeman
• Garth Schoeman
• Colin Webster

Also read:

• Conduct of elected officials.
• The position of MSSA's Players' Representative is up for election at the 2018 SA National Championships.
• Time to get your nominations in - deadline 1 November 2018

Conduct of elected officials.

Johan van Breda (foreground left) discusses the pairings with Esmari Swart (foreground right).

Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA) is fully committed to good governance and transparency.

With MSSA being a democratically run organisation, officials are nominated by member clubs. Sometimes officials are the best that one can hope for in terms of knowledge base, and sometimes the newly elected officials require a little assistance.

However, all officials need a guide by which to conduct themselves in carrying out MSSA’s affairs.

MSSA, being a member of SASCOC prescribes to the pledge as determined by SASCOC for officials and has made it a requirement for all officials to agree to before assuming their duties and responsibilities.

There is nothing worse than when an official makes use of MSSA’s knowledge base for his/her own personal benefit, or for the benefit of a different organisation. Such acts may indeed be considered to be criminal and may be in violation of several Acts of Parliament. In fact, MSSA takes a very dim view of such types of activity and always takes relevant action in such cases once it has enough evidence to lay criminal charges.

Fortunately, MSSA is blessed with many officials who have a high level of ethics and duty. This is largely due to the member clubs having total control over the nominating process, and due to the fact that every member club has the right, if not duty, to vote for the officials who are to lead MSSA.

Nominations for MSSA’s positions must be submitted by 1 November 2018.

The pledge for all MSSA’s officials is as follows:

• Do my best to ensure that all athletes are given an equal opportunity to participate, regardless of gender, ability or ethnic background.
• Discourage any sport program from becoming primarily an entertainment for the spectators.
• Ensure that all programmes, equipment and facilities are safe and appropriate to the athletes ages and abilities.
• Make sure that the age and maturity levels of the children are considered in program development, rule enforcement and scheduling.
• Remember that participation is done for the athletes own sake and ensure that winning is kept in perspective.
• Ensure that the code of ethics is distributed, understood and agreed upon by, coaches, athletes, and officials.
• Ensure that coaches and officials are capable of promoting fair play as well as the development of good technical skills, and encourage them to become certified.
• Promote and develop the game by sharing knowledge and experience.
• Administer all issues relating to the sport in the best interest of the sport and not for my personal gain.
• Educate and ensure that high standards of risk management are maintained.
• Educate athletes to respect other cultures and beliefs.
• Keep athletes and officials updated on protocol of other countries where they may compete.
• Keep relevant information confidential.
• Not to misuse my position or information for my own benefit.
• Conform to my federation’s code of conduct.
• Show common courtesy towards participants/players, other administrators, coaches, spectators, technical officials, press and sponsors.
• No administrator shall at any time give, make, issue, authorize or endorse any public statement which will have or design to have, an effect prejudicial or detrimental to the best interest of the National Federations or sport in general.

Also read:

• The position of MSSA's Players' Representative is up for election at the 2018 SA National Championships.
• Time to get your nominations in - deadline 1 November 2018

Time to get your nominations in - deadline 1 November 2018

All member clubs in good-standing may attend and vote at MSSA's Annual General Meeting.

Any full-paid-up Registered Player is able to stand for any position as long as a member club nominates such player, and another member club seconds such nomination.

There is no doubt that the 2018 MSSA Annual General Meeting to be held on 1 December 2018 will be an exciting affair.

Not only will there be some important proposed changes to the Constitution, but a number of the positions on the Management Board are also up for grabs.

Management Board positions up for election are (3 year terms):

1. President
2. Three out of the five Vice-President positions
3. Esports Representative
4. National Schools Director

Provincial Director positions up for election are (2 year terms):

1. Eastern Cape
2. Gauteng
3. KwaZulu Natal
4. Mpumulanga
5. Northern Cape
6. North West
7. Western Cape

Regional Director positions up for election are (1 year term):

1. All

Thus the 2018 elections will be more than interesting.

It should be noted that no person may be elected into more than one position.

The Management Board has worked well over the past number of years, and it will indeed be interesting to again see democracy at work.

As it can be  seen from the above, MSSA does not hold truck with 'succession plans', but instead trusts entirely on its membership applying its mind and electing the right people to further promote all the disciplines under is jurisdition.

Also read:

• The position of MSSA's Players' Representative is up for election at the 2018 SA National Championships.

The position of MSSA's Players' Representative is up for election at the 2018 SA National Championships.

Jason Batzofin (second from the right) in Al Ain (UAE) at the Asian E-Sports Federation's General Assembly Meeting.

It should be noted that MSSA, created the position for Players' Representative on its committee in 2005. However, it was not until 2006 that MSSA found a player willing to take on such an important role.

The position of Players' Representative is not only a brilliant launching pad for the athlete who wants to become renown on a national level, but also for those who want to get ahead on an international level too.

Both Amanda (nee Kwaza) Pakade and Jason Batzofin have successfully used the position to reach for the stars and to advance themselves. Amanda Pakade is now MSSA president and Jason Batzofin is now the chairperson of IESF's Athletes' Commission.

In 2016, Jason was appointed by the International Esports Federation (IESF) to sit on its Athletes' Commission.

In 2017 IESF's Athletes Commission elected Jason to be the Chairperson of such Commission. As the Chairperson of the Athletes' Commission, Jason too sits on IESF's Board and represents the interests of all players/athletes directly to the very highest levels of esports.

The player's who have served as Players' Representative are as follows:

Years	Players’ Representatives	Club
2016 to present	Jason Batzofin	St John’s College
2010	Jonathan Newman	Maritzburg Griffins
2006 – 2008	Amanda Kwaza	University of Johannesburg

To be elected as the Players’ Representative to MSSA's Management Board, such player shall have Protea Colours, and shall have represented South Africa in an International Competition, and shall not be over 30 years of age at the time of such election.

However, it should be noted that the Players’ Representative is not be elected at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) by the member clubs, but instead is elected by Registered Players who are in standing and who are fully-paid-up. It shall be deemed that all Registered Players have been notified of the election should the member clubs have been timeously notified.

The election of the Players’ Representative shall be conducted in the following manner:

• All Registered Gamers who have senior Provincial, National, and Protea Colours may send in their vote on the prescribed voting form for their choice of candidate.
• The vote may be submitted either by facsimile or by e-mail.
• Such vote must reach the General Secretary by the close of business on or before two days prior to the AGM.

Thus, Registered Players have the opportunity of circumventing the existing system of elections to get their choice of Registered Player directly onto the Management Board.

Thus, every Registered Player has the ability to influence MSSA.

To be nominated for the position, players must contact mindsportscorrespondence@gmail.com and request such form. The completed form must then be returned to mindsportscorrespondence@gmail.com by the end of business on or before 1 November 2018.

You want change? It is in your hands, take the opportunity.

A two horse race...

From left to right: Constantine Surkont (Russia) and Colin Webster (South Africa) at IESF's 8th World Championships - Jakarta.

On 10 November 2018 the International Esports Federation (IESF) shall hold its Ordinary General Meeting at which IESF shall elect a new president.

In terms of the Statutes, there are three individuals who qualify to stand for such position, being Silviu Stroei (Romania), Coonstantine Surkont (Russia), and Colin Webster South Africa).

IESF's current Statutes require a candidate for the position of president to have completed a full term on a committee for which he/she has been elected.

However, although three individuals qualify for candidacy, only two individuals are contesting the position through will of the membership.

In the one corner, you have Constantine Surkont. Constantine is a member of the Russian eSports Federation. Without doubt ReSF is a a huge, powerful, and overwhelming force in the esports world. With its massive size and huge interests in esports, there is much that ReSF through Constantine brings to the table.

In the other corner there is Colin Webster of South Africa. Colin has been involved in the administration of esports since 1998 and is instrumental for much of the constitutional change in IESF. While Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA) cannot match ReSF in terms of resources, MSSA is the first body to have obtained official recognition for esports as a sport (2005), and is currently the number one ranked federation, by IESF, for administration.

It will be a tough choice for the member national federations, but the will of the membership will have its way when the majority vote one way or the other.

Also read:

• IeSF ranks MSSA 1st for administration

The nominations are in...

Adele Janse van Rensburg (GenX) - 2017 Mind Sports Person of the Year.

Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA) awards its Management Board Awards to derserving individuals who have given their best to the growth and development of mind sports in South Africa.

Thus the individuals who have received the award in the past read as a veritable 'Who's Who".

The closing date for 2018's nominations was 15 October 2018, and nominations were received from a number of member clubs that wish to see affiliated players and sponsors rewarded for their contribution over the past year.

MSSA's Management Board Awards were started in 2009.

Even though some of the individuals honoured in the past have moved on to further their prospects in business, Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA) shall always fondly remember the winners and the incredible contribution that they made to the various mind sports in South Africa..

Some have become even more involved.

Now that the nominations are in, MSSA's Management Board shall deliberate over such nominations in order to present such awards at MSSA's Annual General Meeting on 1 December 2018.

The categories are:

• Mind Sports Person of the Year 
• Board Gamer of the Year 
• Computer Gamer of the Year 
• Wargamer of the Year 
• Volunteer of the Year 
• Writer of the Year 
• Sponsor of the Year

Past winners are:

Year	Mind Sports Person of the Year	Board Gamer of the Year	Computer Gamer of the Year	Wargamer of the Year	Volunteer of the Year	Writer of the Year	Sponsor of the Year
2017	Adele Janse Van Rensburg	Cassandra van Tonder	Mxolisi Lukhele	Terence Allwright	Alwyn van Wyk	Tamzyn Pamplin of MyComLink	TULUNTULU
2016	Jason Batzofin	Lucille Brown	Matthew Smith	Garth Schoeman	Colin Webster	Tamzyn Pamplin of MyComLink	SterKinekor
2015	Elishia Retief	Lubabalo Kondlo	Kyle Turnbull	Jason Batzofin	Morizane Boyes	Andrew Rose of My Community	MWEB
2014	Morizane Boyes	Lubabalo Kondlo	Barry West	Elishia Retief	Louis Brown	Kyle Wolmarans	MWEB
2013	Simphiwe Maphumulo	Simphiwe Maphumulo	Lyrene Kuhn	Colin Webster	Dorian Love	Han Ciliiers	MWEB
2012	Robert Botha	Simphiwe Maphumulo	Gabriela Isaacs	Eugene Burger	Louis Brown	Han Cilliers	GIGABYTE
2011	Jaco Engelbrecht	Lubabalo Kondlo	Robert Botha	David Vannucci	Ryan van den Bergh	Alexandra Kayle	ASUS
2010	Frans Brewis	Simphiwe Maphumulo	Nialle Momsen	Gregory Laycock	Ryan van den Bergh	Jaco Diedericks	Incredible Connection
2009	Colin Webster	Mothusi Moabi	Stephen White	Edward van Trotsenburg	Ryan van den Bergh	Muhammed Nagdee	Incredible Connection

Reminder: South African National Championships - 1 & 2 December 2018.

MSSA's umpire's (in the orange shirts) in action.

In 2017 MSSA's 31st South African National Provincial Championships was very ably hosted by Fakkel School.

Following due process vis a vis the bidding procedure, Fakkel School was successful in winning the right to once again host MSSA's South African National Provincial Championships.

By now,  all member clubs affiliated to Mind Sports South Africa, and Registered Players are aware that National championships may be hosted by any club in South Africa. This allows every club, willing to host, the opportunity to cater for their members, and allows MSSA greater reach into areas in which major events have not yet been held. Through such system, MSSA has seen its SA National Championships hosted in Bloemfontein (2), Cape Town (3), Durban (3), Germiston (1), Johannesburg (13), Pietermaritzburg (2), Pretoria (3), Port Elizabeth (1), Sasolburg (1), and Witbank (2).

MSSA's South African National Provincial Championships is part of the process of selecting the 2019 Protea teams that will attend various World Championships and participate in various test matches. 

All Registered Players are reminded that MSSA's South African National Provincial Championships are an open championship. 

In other words any Registered Player is entitled to enter the championship – no matter where they live, or their category of membership. 

You may contact MSSA at mindsportssa@gmail.com

Details are as follows:

• Board gaming: https://esportscommentator.blogspot.com/2018/10/south-african-national-board-gaming.html
• Esports: https://esportscommentator.blogspot.com/2018/10/south-african-national-lan.html
• Wargaming: https://esportscommentator.blogspot.com/2018/10/south-african-national-wargames.html

Hosting Club: Fakkel School
Venue: Fakkel School, 20 Jan Smuts Ave., Sasolburg
Date: 1 & 2 December 2018
Entries: Clubs must use the entry form on Google Drive to enter their teams/players.

Entry Date: 9 November 2018

Member clubs must enter their teams/players on their Google Drive page.

The 2018 Calendar of Events may be viewed here.

The draft Calender of Events for 2019 may be viewed here.

Also read:

• Closing date for clubs to bid to host events - 1 November 2018.