And the nominees are...

From left to right: Dr Janine Brandt, Amanda Pakade (MSSA President), Colin Webster, and Jermaine Craig (Saturday Star) on the way to GEES in October earlier this year.

Mind Sports South Africa's Management Board Awards are the longest running awards for gaming in South Africa, if not the world. The awards take into account all the various disciplines being, board gaming, esports, and wargaming.

MSSA requested all members to make submissions by 31 August 2019. The submissions poured in.

Quite interestingly there were multiple submissions made for the same candidates.

MSSA's Board is now following due process to select the winners for each category.

The following nominations have been received:

Mind Sports Person of the Year

1. Dr. Janine Brandt (Valhalla)
2. Colin Webster (Old Edwardian Mind Sports Club)

Board Gamer of the Year

1. Saudah Bhaimia (Curro Klerksdorp)
2. Reinder van Wyk (JCS Academy)
3. Thabo Kgopane (NWU Vaal)

Esports Player of the Year

1. Charlize Seremak (HTS Sasolburg)
2. Terrance Broomberg (Curro Aurora)

Wargamer of the Year

1. Angellah Sulamoyo (Old Edwardian Mind Sports Club)
2. Garth Schoeman (Knights Mind Sports Club)

Team of the Year

1. Dragons (Monument Park High School)
2. ZAG Paladins (ZAG Academy)

Volunteer of the Year

1. Riaan Vrey (Monument Park High School)
2. Christiaan Botes (Helpmekaar Kollege)
3. Dr Janine Brandt (Valhalla)

Umpire of the Year

1. Jessie Joubert (ZAG Academy)
2. Colin Webster (Old Edwardian Mind Sports Club)
3. Johan Van Breda (ZAG Academy)

Coach of the Year

1. Jessie Joubert (ZAG Academy)

Educator of the Year

1. Hannes Esterhuizen (Curro Klerksdorp)
2. Gary Blieden (Curro Aurora)

Writer of the Year

1. Rolina Vorster (News Everyday)
2. Colin Webster (OEMSC)
3. Saturday Star

Social Media Person of the Year

1. Raving Mad Gamerz
2. Riaan Vrey (Monument Park High School)

Sponsor of the Year

1. Tuluntulu
2. North West University - Vaal

The names of previous winners may be seen on https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mind_Sports_South_Africa#Management_Board_Awards

Also read:

• Nominations required by 31 August 2019 for MSSA's Management Board Awards.

Theunis van der Merwe (Hoërskool Klerksdorp) shoots into second place.

Theunis van der Merwe (Hoërskool Klerksdorp) has moved up the rankings to challenge Unathi Nsimande's (Empangeni High School) grip of pole position.

With the completion of Mind Sports South Africa's NWU 9th Online Inter-School League the rankings for the esports title of StreetFighter V have changed substantially.

Newcomer, Theunis van der Merwe of Hoërskool Klerksdorp, who was previously unseeded, managed to win every single round to earn his provincial colours and walk away with the title of  MSSA's Theunis van der Merwe (Hoërskool Klerksdorp) champion for the StreetFighter V esports title.

Theunis' win places him fractionally behind Unathi Nsimande (Empangeni High School) whop still heads the rankings. It will indeed be interesting to see a face-to-face match between these two juggernauts.

The rankings for High School teams for the StreetFighter V esports title are:

Pos	Name of Player	year	Club	Points
1	Unathi Nsimande	19	Empangeni High School	156.2
2	Theunis van der Merwe	19	Hoërskool Klerksdorp	153.3
3	Leone Loftus	19	Fakkel School of Skills	143.3
4	Hanke van Reede van Outshoorn	19	Empangeni High School	139.4
5	Rina Rene du Toit	19	Northcliff High School	112.1
6	Wernich Botha	19	JCS Academy	110
7	Dylan Naidoo	19	Northcliff High School	108.6
8	Chloe Moodley	19	Empangeni High School	104.5
9	Cebo Xaba	19	Empangeni High School	104.5
10	Kyle Rad	19	Parys High School	104.5
11	Connor Baron	19	Parys High School	95
12	Okkert Ras	19	Parys High School	95
13	Lesego Motatsi	19	Fakkel School of Skills	95
14	Michael Janse van Rensburg	19	HTS Sasolburg	95
15	Charlize seremak	19	HTS Sasolburg	95
16	Chiney wallace	19	HTS Sasolburg	95
17	Daniel Lewis	19	Norman Hershilwood High School	94.9
18	Angelo Ritumalta	19	Norman Hershilwood High School	94.4
19	Cleo Moodley	19	Empangeni High School	90.3
20	Koos Frederick	19	HTS Sasolburg	90.3
21	Jeremy Seremak	19	HTS Sasolburg	90.3
22	Zaharaa Hassan	19	Norman Hershilwood High School	89.7
23	Matthew Van Schoor	19	Norman Hershilwood High School	85.8
24	Ahmad Omer	19	Norman Hershilwood High School	81.6
25	Mia-Alyssa Abrahams	19	Norman Hershilwood High School	77.6
26	Ameer Begg	19	Norman Hershilwood High School	77.6
27	Mikaail Damon	19	Norman Hershilwood High School	77.6
28	Nolo Mokhathi	19	Norman Hershilwood High School	77.6
29	Alexander Nel	19	Norman Hershilwood High School	77.6
30	Thabiso Ranape	19	Norman Hershilwood High School	77.6

Also read: 

• Results of MSSA's 9th Online Inter-School Provincial Championships.
• North-West University becomes the headline sponsor for MSSA's Online School League.
• 2019 Calendar of Events
• Why schools and universities should invest in esports.
• Age restrictions in esports are important.
• Rankings - High School - Counter-Strike: GO
• Rankings - High School - Clash Royale

GOVERNMENT TO PARTNER IN ESPORTS DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA

Chairman of various branches of Nigeria Esports Association.

The Nigeria E sports Association has been commended for championing  grass root E sports   development in the country, with the aim of making the game a national sporting event in Nigeria.

The Director of Sports in the Federal Capital Abuja, Chief Mrs Dilichukwu Onyedima made the recommendation when she played host to some executive members of the Nigeria Esports Association who visited her in Abuja Nigeria.

The FCT Sports administrator while thanking the body of Nigeria Esports Association stressed   government’s readiness to work hand in hand with the Nigeria Esports Association to move the game forward. 

Madam Delichuku further advised the members of Nigeria Esports Association to make judicious use of the opportunity  at hand to take the game of Esports to all parts of the country. Delichuku said the government will do the needful for Nigeria Esports to join the league of  Esports nations.

Delichuku then called on the Esports officials to commence Esports activities to keep the youths out of crime, and promised to donate a big television screen for the Nigeria Esports Association.

The Director of Sports in Abuja, the seat of the Federal Capital Territory, advised the Nigeria Esports Association to take the game to the national sporting festival in order for Esports to be accepted and admitted as a medal event in the National Sports Festival  in Edo State 2020.  

Earlier, the President of the Nigeria Esports Association, Mr Agbor Clinton, said they were in the Director’s Office to congratulate team FCT  over the success in the just concluded National Youths Games, which team FCT  finished ninth position.

Mr Agbor Clinton also requested   for the government’s support in the development of  Esports in Nigeria and thanked the Director for the opportunity given so far in the development of sports in Nigeria. 

The Esports President appealed to the government to ensure that   the Nigeria Esports Association in given all the necessary supports in the country which he said the Nigeria youths can exploit in Esports if given the right opportunity.

The Nigeria Esports Association President said over nineteen states has so far commenced the Esports activities under the Nigeria Esports Association.

The Nigeria Esports Association President also informed the Director that zonal competition ahead of 11th Esports World Championship in Korea 2019 will soon start across the country. 

In another development, the President of the Nigeria Esports Association, Agbor Clinton has described the MOU between SPORTFANZONE.COM as a welcome development which he said will boast the development of the game in Nigeria.

At the international level the Nigeria Esports Association has since commenced discussion to be welcomed into the international fraternity.

Writer: Adeline Shuri  Abuja Nigeria, nigeriaesportsassociation@gmail.com

Dale Spolander (Northcliff High School) takes a commanding lead.

Dale Spolander (Northcliff High School) leads the national rankings in leaps and bounds.

2019 was the first year that the esports title Clash Royale was played in official South African Championships.

The title attracted a good following, and the standard improved from tournament to tournament.

Thus there is little surprise that Dale Spolander (Northcliff High school) has taken a commanding lead. Dale has proved to be diligent, hard working, and a dedicated player. From finishing in 3rd place at MSSA's Gauteng Provincial Championships, and then went on to win MSSA's SA Schools' National Championships as well as MSSA's Online School League.

So it is that Dale Spolander has manager to break through the magical 500 point barrier, being the only athlete to do so.

If Dale can build on the firm foundations that he has laid for himself in 2019, it is expected that Dale will be a major force with which to be reckoned.

The rankings for High School teams for the Clash Royale esports title are:

Pos	Name of Player	year	Club	Points
1	Dale Spolander	19	Northcliff High School	509.6
2	Carlos Kori	19	Northcliff High School	305.6
3	Terrance Broomberg	19	Curro Aurora	243
4	Kian Daries	19	Norman Hershilwood High School	235.7
5	Liam Moodley	19	Northcliff High School	211.3
6	Daniel Lombard	19	Monument Park High School	195.1
7	Jayden Grobbelaar	19	Hoërskool Randburg	193.2
8	Luan Raubenheimer	19	Hoërskool Klerksdorp	184.8
9	Willem Broodryk	19	Parys High School	181.3
10	Dayaan Matthews	19	Norman Hershilwood High School	173.3
11	Tyreke Michael	19	Northcliff High School	168.6
12	Immanuel Swart	19	Hoërskool Klerksdorp	157
13	Aidan Vorster	19	Curro Aurora	140
14	Jeandre Viljoen	19	Parys High School	135.5
15	Herschelle Ncube	19	Hyde Park High	126.4
16	Peter-John Floris	19	Norman Hershilwood High School	124.4
17	Wickus Lubbe	19	Parys High School	109.6
18	Emrou Martin	19	Norman Hershilwood High School	103.9
19	Josh Naidoo	19	Northcliff High School	103.8
20	Thammy Ndlovu	19	Northcliff High School	102.2
21	Rivaan Ramdass	19	Hyde Park High	97
22	Michael Naidoo	19	Northcliff High School	89.3
23	Michael Pienaar	19	Northcliff High School	85.5
24	Rohil Shivaay Poorun	19	Northcliff High School	85.5
25	Nolo Mokhathi	19	Norman Hershilwood High School	81.6
26	Haedon Prinsloo	19	Norman Hershilwood High School	81.6
27	Khumo Mononyane	19	Hyde Park High	80
28	Dylan Nagel	19	Norman Hershilwood High School	67.8
29	Wesley Lee	19	Hoërskool Klerksdorp	64.5
30	Daniel Lewis	19	Norman Hershilwood High School	63.5

Also read: 

• Results of MSSA's 9th Online Inter-School Provincial Championships.
• North-West University becomes the headline sponsor for MSSA's Online School League.
• 2019 Calendar of Events
• Why schools and universities should invest in esports.
• Age restrictions in esports are important.
• Rankings - High School - Counter-Strike: GO