Maritzburg College becomes a contender in DotA

Maritzburg A

In 2015 Maritzburg College's DotA 2 eSports team was only beaten by Fish Hoek High School and Parklands College to finish in 5th place in MSSA's Online Inter-school League.

However, under the astute leadership of the Educators and the total dedication of all the team members, the team showed immense improvement.

The team won all their matches in the 2016 MSSA Online Inter-School Provincial Championships.

As  a result, the team is to be awarded KwaZulu Natal School Provincial Colours.

Not only that, but the team now also qualifies for National Team Trials on 6 June 2016.

The question is now, can this team win Trials (NTT) and become South Africa's new Protea Team for DotA.

MSSA/MWEB 2015 National Team Trials

Nathan Anderson in 2014 Protea kit

The MSSA/MWEB 2015 National Team Trials held on 26 September 2015 at THE HIVE in Montecasino went off without a hitch.

Yet, even before the doors were open, players had already assembled outside of the venue in the quaint reconstruction of a Italian town - complete with police car...?

The team from Fish Hoek all looked terribly dapper in their provincial colours. Nathan Anderson was also among the early arrivals resplendent in his 2014 kit.

Maryke Kennard - captain on the Tuks League of Legends

Nathan has represented South Africa in 2013 (Bucharest) and in 2014 (Baku) and was chomping at the bit in order to be selected to once again represent South Africa in Seoul.

The next group to arrive was a League of Legends team comprised mainly of Tuks students and lead by Maryke Kennard. The team arrived almost in wedge-formation with Maryke at the front and the rest in tow.

Gamers are encouraged to select their own teams from all the players who have qualified for Trials. Thus teams that play at Trials are not always the same as the teams that qualify. Team captains are thus able to fine-tune their teams by using players who have qualified for such Trials.

Players also turned up from six other clubs, and in total 4 provinces were represented at the Trials.

Ryan Boyes, eSports Chairman, immediately took charge of the Trials, and as soon as the mandatory welcome was given the administration of the event was finalised.

The trials were hotly contested with surprising results in most games which drew gasps from officials and players alike.

Thus at the end of day, exhausted gamers and officials departed from the venue.

The process now begins for the committee to analyse the results, select the team, submit the entry to the IeSF, and award Protea Colours.

As soon as the MSSA is able, the selection shall be made public.

Western Cape Provincial Team for DotA 2 announced

During the MWEB Online Inter-Schools Championships, the 'DotA 2' teams from Fish Hoek High School and Parklands College tussled for first place. However, the final result ended with both Fish Hoek and Parklands tied for first place.

Tying for first place did not satisfy the competitive nature of the Fish Hoek High DotA 2 team, and thus, in the Western Cape Championships, the high school team demonstrated just how good they are.

At such championships the team romped home to first place while utterly defeating all the teams that stood in their way.

The solid teamwork and leadership allowed the Fish Hoek DotA 2 team end on a perfect score.

Thus the MSSA, after due consideration has selected the Fish Hoek team to represent the Western Cape in the MWEB online inter-provincial test series.

The team is young, but it is believed by the MSSA hierarchy that such school teams are the way forward in developing South Africa's future players.

The main threat to the Western Cape team is that of Gauteng. The team from Gauteng is made up of the Tuks Mindsports Club, and such team from Tuks is considered by many to be South Africa's Protea team-in-waiting.

It is hoped that Fish Hoek will rise to the challenge, and with the whole of the Western Cape cheering them on, continue with their undefeated streak.

The members of the Western Cape Provincial DotA 2 Team are:

NAME		CLUB	GAME
Batt	Leo	Fish Hoek High School	DotA
Boethger	Dylan	Fish Hoek High School	DotA
Jansen	Reuben	Fish Hoek High School	DotA
Spring	Julian	Fish Hoek High School	DotA
Waters	Travis	Fish Hoek High School	DotA