Outstanding nominations

Amanda Kwaza has overseen a number of reforms in MSSA yo create a national federation that delivers even more to its members.

MSSA's Management Board Awards were initiated in 2009 to reward excellence not specifically provided for in MSSA's Constitution. 

When reading through the names of those previously honored, the reader is quickly reminded of MSSA's rich history. The names are not just names, these are the men and women who have made an incredible contribution to the various mind sports in South Africa. 

 Under the direction of MSSA president, Amanda Pakade, MSSA's highest legislative body, being the Annual General Meeting, agreed to widen the scope of such awards in December 2018. Thus the awards are now more representative of MSSA's membership, of the work being done, and of society as a whole. 

MSSA President, Amanda Kwaza, has already expressed her joy and has stated, "Never before has the quality of nomination been as high as those submitted this year. The task now faced by the Management Board is monumental in considering each and every nomination." 

The final winners shall be announced at MSSA's Annual General Meeting (AGM) on 5 December 2020. 

Awards shall be made in the following categories: 

• Mind Sports Person of the Year 
• Board Gamer of the Year 
• Esports Player of the Year 
• Wargamer of the Year 
• Team of the Year 
• Volunteer of the Year 
• Umpire of the Year 
• Coach of the Year 
• Educator of the Year 
• Writer of the Year 
• Social Media Person of the Year 
• Sponsor of the Year

Also read:

• Upcoming events: Free State Online Provincial Championships - 5 September 2020
• Upcoming events: National Team Trials - 19 September 2020
• Calendar of  Events: 2020
• Affiliation: Schools
• Affiliation: Private clubs
• Esports titles selected: MSSA's School Championships.
• Esports titles selected: MSSA's Premier Championships.
• Results of MSSA's 10th Annual Online Championships for High Schools
• Results of MSSA's Western Cape Online Provincial Championships.
• Results: MSSA's 11th Provincial Online Championships
• Results: Gauteng Online Provincial Championships.
• Test Match results: South African Protea DotA 2 team rises triumphant.
• Test Match results: DOTA2: South Africa vs Azerbaijan
• New National Team Selection Criteria
• Selecting the national Protea teams for Mind Sports South Africa.
• Qualifiers: Clash Royale
• Qualifiers: Counter-Strike: GO
• Qualifiers: Dota 2
• Qualifiers: League of Legends
• Qualifiers: Paladins
• Qualifiers: Pro Evolution Soccer
• The road to Eilat
• IESF announces first three titles for 12th World Championships
• IESF's 12th Esports World Championship - Eilat now set to December 6th - 12th, 2020.
• Rankings: Clash Royale
• Rankings: Counter-Strike: GO.
• Rankings: DotA 2 rankings
• Rankings: FIFA '20.
• Rankings: HearthStone
• Rankings: League of Legends
• Rankings: Paladins
• Rankings: PRO EVOLUTION SOCCER (PES)
• Rankings: Street Fighter V
• Rankings: Tekken 7 rankings

Winners of MSSA's 2018 SA Schools' National Championships.

The ever cheerful Saudah Bhaimia (Curro Klerksdorp) on her way to winning her first National title.

Mind Sports South Africa's 2018 SA Schools' National Championships were held at Fakkel School of Skills on 28 and 29 July 2018.

Fakkel School of Skills proved to be an exceptional host and if this was a 'dry run' for Nationals (to be hosted by Fakkel School of Skills on 1 and 2 December 2018), such championships shall be a well attended and well run event.

MSSA's 2018 SA Schools' National Championships were well attended with schools attennding from four provinces.

There is an increase in both the number of participants as well as the number of schools participating which bodes well for future growth.

It was particulary encouraging to see the game of Backgammon being played again after being absent for a number of years.

The winners of all the various games are:

Title	Name of player/team	School	Colours awarded
Backgammon – (Male - High School)	Christo Aristedes	JCS Academy	SA High School National Federation
Checkers - Anglo American – (Male - High School)	Innocent Khoalane	JCS Academy	SA High School National Federation
Chekers - Russian – (Male - High School)	Reinder van Wyk	JCS Academy	SA High School National Federation
DotA 2 – (Male - High School)	Bishop's	Bishop's College	SA High School National Federation
FIFA '18 – (Female - High School)	Leone Loftus	Fakkel School of Skills	SA High School National Federation
FIFA '18 – (Male - High School)	Aphiwe Mbetha	HTS Sasolburg
Hearthstone (Male - High school)	Daniel Luis	Potchefstroom Gimnasium
	Arend Roux	Hoerskool Parys
	JC Smidt	Hoerskool Parys
Hearthstone (Male - Primary school)	Durandt van Dyk	JCS Academy	SA Primary School National Federation
League of Legends – (Male - High School)	H/S Parys	Hoerskool Parys	SA High School National Federation
Morabaraba – (Female - High School)	Saudah Bhaimia	Curro Klerksdorp	SA High School National Federation
Morabaraba – (Female - Primary School)	Anne-Lee Steyn	JCS Academy	SA Primary School National Federation
Morabaraba – (Male - High School)	Tswarelo Mtimkulu	JCS Academy	SA High School National Federation
Morabaraba – (Male - Primary School)	Junior Mpembe	Fakkel School of Skills
Street Fighter V – (Female - High School)	Natalie Swanepoel	Fakkel School of Skills	SA High School National Federation
Street Fighter V – (Male - High School)	Michael Janse van Rensburg	HTS Sasolburg	SA High School National Federation
Tekken 7 – (Female - High School)	Charlize Seremak	HTS Sasolburg	SA High School National Federation
Tekken7 – (Male - High School)	Jeremy Seremak	HTS Sasolburg	SA High School National Federation
VainGlory – (Male - High School)	PR0NHS	Northcliff High School	SA High School National Federation
Sportsmanship Award	Matthew von Bulow	Bishop's College

Also read:

• 23 learners earn High School National Federation Colours at SA Schools.

Photographs of the event may be seen on: https://www.facebook.com/pg/mindsportssa/photos/?tab=album&album_id=10157539846504008

Jonathan 'CactuarKiDD' Brown - MSSA's Western Cape Provincial Director

Jonathan 'CactuarKiDD' Brown - MSSA's Western Cape Provincial Director.

Jonathan Brown AKA CactuarKiDD is a Cape Town based esports player and the Captain of Team PlayBell E-Sports. Jonathan and Team PlayBell joined Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA) in early 2017, with his teams sights set on developing the Cape Town gaming community. Jonathan and his team have set up numerous successful tournaments in Cape Town, focusing on the ever evolving fighting game community. CactuarKiDD is an avid Tekken player and supporter of the local fighting game community (FGC). Playing competitively since 2008, CactuarKiDD has continued to not only better himself as a player, but bring out the potential powerhouse of players in Cape Town who have yet to be discovered, no matter what the discipline. When he isn't doing system administration in the day, Jonathan continues do dive deep into the issues which are currently facing the South Africa's local gaming community and looks towards bringing out the potential in the next era of gamers in the country. "Gaming without a community is a self explanatory problem, it cannot happen without the efforts from all fronts, whether it be organizers for tournaments or from the players themselves. Everyone has a role to play." Jonathan looks towards making sure the Western Cape does not miss any opportunities in 2018, and will be developing players from all types of games to make sure that the Western Cape creates a strong presence in the next seasons to come. Game on! Dates for championships in the Western Cape are:

Date	Event	Discipline	Venue
10 FEBRUARY	On-line Inter-school Provincial Championships	CS:GO, DotA 2, FIFA, LOL, SC, Tekken 7, VainGlory	On-line
21 APRIL	Provincial Online Championships	Dota 2, CounterStrike GO, League of Legends, Street Fighter V	On-line
28 & 29 APRIL	Provincial School Championships for Eastern Cape, KwaZulu Natal, Limpopo, Mpumulanga, Northern Cape, North West, Western Cape	Board and Figure games
Week ending 27 JULY	1st round of School League for 4 term schools.	CounterStrike: GO, DotA 2, FIFA Online, League of Legends, StarCraft II, Tekken 7, VainGlory	Online
11 AUGUST	StarCraft II, Hearthstone	eSports (PC)	On-line
25 & 26 AUGUST	22nd WESTERN CAPE Championships	All
Week ending 7 SEPTEMBER	1st round of School League for 3 term schools.	CounterStrike: GO, DotA 2, FIFA Online, League of Legends, StarCraft II, Tekken 7, VainGlory	Online