Wednesday 30 June 2021

Following due process.

Wetsi Moloi of Middelburg Hoërskool showed strength of character by following due process.

Sport has a number of life-lessons for players.

When something goes wrong, or against a person's wishes, the person can rant and demonstrate against the rule, authority, or decision. Such petulant behaviour is only likely to polarize both sides, which ultimately has no benefit to anyone.

Such confrontational behaviour normally leads to a clash where compromise becomes less likely, and one side normally has to give in at the expense of losing face, while the other wins in a very unpleasant game of one-upmanship.

Then, you get the people who are courteous and understand the rule of law. No matter how bad the decision, or unfair the rule, or strange the scenario, they accept the ruling on the face of it and pursue their recourse through due process. These are the true sportsmen and sportswomen who are learning valuable lessons that they can apply to their entire life.

One such person is Wetsi Moloi of Middelburg Hoërskool. In MSSA's 2021 SA National Online Schools Championships difficult circumstances arose, which were of a technical nature, which did not allow Wetsi to play his final game. The umpire ruled correctly, and although Wetsi was shattered by the ruling, he was not faint-hearted and pursued the matter through due process.

The Board, under the leadership of Mrs. Amanda Pakade, ruled on 30 June2021, that although the umpire was correct and operated within his terms of reference, MSSA would be remiss to not award Wetsi with his South African National High School Colours. 

The ruling is a triumph for good governance and oversight.

Mrs Amanda Pakade, President of Mind Sports South Africa, stated "It is wonderful to see that his  parents, school and educators still inculcate such virtues into today's youth".

Also read:

Tuesday 29 June 2021

The deadline is 1 November 2021.

 

Amanda Kwaza (MSSA President) will oversee major changes  to MSSA's Board with the possibility of 11 new Board members being voted in.

Only Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA) runs accredited, and official, regional, provincial, and national championships and leagues.

Any event not accredited by MSSA is essentially a flawed event as not only does it not have any accreditation, but it is not able to ensure the metal and physical health of the participants.
Thus serving on Mind Sports South Africa's Management Board is not for the faint-hearted as there are many tough, and some unpopular, decisions to be made on a continuous basis.

It is during these times when Board members have to stand up and be counted, times when you know that it is the right decision, albeit not a popular one. It all comes down to ethics.

Even bearing all the above in mind, the work is done gleefully by a core of volunteers who seek no reward other than seeing the various disciplines and games grow, and watch the athletes attain their full potential.

Every club may nominate athletes for the Board, and since retiring officers are not automatically made eligible for re-election, even retiring officers need to be nominated by a member club in good standing, if the following criteria are met:
  • A member club has nominated the Registered Player on the prescribed form, and
  • The Nomination Form has been submitted to MSSA on or before 1 November 2021, and
  • Letter of Undertaking has been submitted by the nominee, and
  • The Registered Player is fully-paid-up for the 2021/2022 year as at the date of nomination, and
  • The club nominating the Registered Player has paid its affiliation fees for the 2021/2022 season on or before 1 November 2021.
However it should be noted that only athletes who meet the following criteria may be elected on to the Management Board:
  • Have served a full term on the Management Board, or
  • Have served a full term as Provincial Director (2 year terms), or
  • Have served two full terms as Regional Director (1 year term), or
  • Have served two full terms on a Board of Control (1 year term), or
  • Have earned at least ten (10) Protea caps, or
  • Have served three years on the club committee of which they are currently a member.
All elections are done on a staggered basis, so, although the Management Board consists of 16 members, only 11 positions may be contested at the 2021 Annual General Meeting (AGM). The system of doing the elections on a staggered basis allows MSSA to have a greater degree of stability as the entire Management Board is not able to be elected at any one time which preserves MSSA's continuity and knowledge base.

The positions available on MSSA's Management Board are all 3 year terms and are:
  • President
  • Four Executive Officers
  • Disabled Gamers' Representative
  • Legal Advisor (only a qualified lawyer may hold this position)
  • Computer Gaming Representitive
  • Disabled Gamers’ Representative
  • Card Gaming Representative
  • Board Gaming Representative

Also read:

Date for MSSA's 2021 National Team Trials announced - 21 August 2021


Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA) has announced the date of its 
National Team Trials to be 21 August 2021.

It should be noted, however, that Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA), in these times of COVID-19, have made some important changes to the 2021 edition of its National Team Trials (NTT) from which its 2021/2022 National Protea Esports Squads will be selected.

The changes are that the eve
nt shall be held online in order to ensure the safety and well-being of its athletes.

However, players can play online with the following proviso's:
  1. Player's in the same team entered from the same province shall play from the same venue, and
  2. Players in the same team from different provinces may play from different provinces, and
  3. Players participating in individual titles (1v1) from the same club and who reside in the same province shall play from the same venue, and
  4. All venues must have a club member in attendance, and
  5. All clubs entering players shall have an accredited umpire at their venue from which their players are participating. Such umpire may not be a participant I'm the NTT.
MSSA shall select the highest placed team and/or individual based on:
  1. Confirmation to attend events (test matches and other matches), and,
  2. Clearance from stimulants.
All Registered Players who have qualified at MSSA's Regional, and/or Provincial, and/or National Championships are cordially invited to enter.

The conditions for entry are as follows:

  1. Entry is R100.00 per Registered Player.
  2. Only fully-paid-up Registered Players may participate in this event.
  3. Entries for National Team Trials must be submitted by 16 August 2021.
  4. To enter, the club must complete the Google Drive document. 
  5. The entry form may be found on Google Drive. https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1_ERR6815uVjSMu4t5KkRxYqGJ_AA88kkz31qRgksASc/edit#gid=287696184
  6. Clubs are to download the entry form, completed the downloaded form, and e-mail it to Mind Sports South Africa. 
  7. Players making themselves eligible for selection, shall submit copies of their valid Passports with their other documentation to the National Team Manager upon meeting the above criteria for selection.
  8. Players who have reached the age of majority may find the necessary forms on https://docs.google.com/document/d/1NHcMGH5G97JA-UbMejpH5AnYjZ4eRChV/edit
  9. Players who have not yet reached the age of majority may find the necessary forms on https://docs.google.com/document/d/10OcmITrUHuNx298zZUdDoVuWvstJFyHa/edit
The Documents required are as follows:
  1. Copy of South African Passport.
  2. Signed Senior or Junior Contract (Please note a parent or guardian will need to sign if the player is under 18 years of age).
  3. Copy of an Unabridged Birth Certificate for players under the age of 18
National team trials shall begin at 10H00 and end at 18H00. MSSA officials will be on duty all day to assist with any queries you might have.

For further information, please contact MSSA at mindsportscorrespondence@gmail.com

Also read:

Monday 28 June 2021

KwaZulu Natal Online Provincial Championships - 31 July 2021


The reintroduction of COV-19 Level 4  
Regulations as imposed by the South African Government to limit the effect f the third wave has put many of the planned face-to-face events in jeopardy. 

Thus Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA) is continuing to run its online Provincial Championships in order to cater for  its community of member clubs and Registered Players.

MSSA's KwaZulu Natal Online Provincial Championships which shall be held  on 31 July 2021.

MSSA's KwaZulu Natal Online Provincial Championships, offers all Registered Players the opportunity to qualify for selection to the national squad and for the Protea Team.


In order to participate, Registered Players must be fully-paid-up. 


Obviously Registered Players may participate from the comfort of their own home while being safe from the ravages of COVID-19.


Game titles to be played are:


Period/genreTitlePlatformAge restrictionPlayers
Shooter
Call of Duty: Black Ops (Online only)PC/PS 4/5184 v 4
CS GOPC165 v 5
PaladinsPC/PS 4/5125 v 5
Sport
FIFA '21PS 4/531 v 1
PES 2021PS 4/531 v 1
MOBA
DotA 2PC125 v 5
Clash RoyaleMobile121 v 1
Fighting
Tekken 7PS 4/5161 v 1
Street Fighter VPS 4/5121 v 1
CardHearthStoneVarious71 v 1

Tournament Structure:

As per the MSSA's rules, being:
  • If less than six teams, the championship shall be a Round Robin Championship
  • If 6 to 10 teams enter the championship there shall be four rounds as played to the Swiss System
  • If 11 or more teams enter the championship there shall be five rounds as played to the Swiss System

Eligibility:

  • In order to participate, Registered Players must be fully-paid-up. 

    Entries:

    Medals:


    Medals shall be handed over to winners at the next MSSA LAN that they attend. 


          MALE:

    • PREMIERMedals shall be awarded to the first three teams.
    • UNDER 24: Medals shall be awarded to the first three teams that have not won a Premier medal and which are comprised entirely of students currently registered at any officially recognised University.
    • SCHOLARS: Medals shall be awarded to the first three teams of learners currently registered at any officially recognised school, provided they have not received any Premier medals.     
         FEMALE:
    • PREMIER: Medals shall be awarded to the first three teams.
    • UNDER 24Medals shall be awarded to the first three teams that have not won a Premier medal and which are comprised entirely of students currently registered at any officially recognised University.
    • SCHOLARS: Medals shall be awarded to the first three teams of learners currently registered at any officially recognised school, provided they have not received any Premier medals.

    Colours:

    • Protea ColoursOnly Players that are selected to represent South Africa in International Championships may earn National Colours if the Protea Colours Board's criteria are met.
    • National ColoursAll Players that win all of their Matches at a National Championship will earn National Colours.
    • Provincial ColoursAll Players that win all of their Matches at a Provincial Championship will earn Provincial Colours. All Players who score within the top 50% in a specific Period at a Provincial Championship, and who also score within the top 50% at a National Championship in the same period and in the same year, will earn Provincial Colours.

          General:

          • The championship shall be played on: 31 July 2021.
          • The first round will start at 10H00. Players shall be given 60 minutes to complete each round.
          • The championship is accredited as being of the same status as a provincial championship. 
          • The championship shall be used for the awarding of provincial colours;
          • The championship shall be used for the awarding of medals for 1st, 2nd and 3rd places in Premier, Under 24, and School categories;
          • The championship shall be used for the ability to qualify for National Team Squad.
          • All medals shall be awarded to the recipients at a MSSA LAN championships.

          Umpires:

          • Umpires may only be contacted over Skype on the day of competition. Any communication not on the Skype channel shall not be entered into.

          Ladder:

          • All games shall count for the National Ladder.

          Shout casting:

          • MSSA shall decide who may shout-cast the games.
          • Anybody wishing to be appointed as a Shout-Caster must apply in writing to mindsportscorrespondence@gmail.com

          Also read: