An earnest appeal...

OKI Gaming provides a much needed youth development programme.

OKI Gaming, an affiliate of Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA), has been renting its new facility and has not yet managed to get any financial backing or support from all of their efforts from reaching out to people and companies.

Though OKI Gaming has made great progress, and  has introduced a lot of youth into the world of E-Sport, we have met people who believe in what we are doing and that it can work given the adequate support.

We managed to get Supersport's support and airtime to showcase one of the events we plan to host, a gaming festival in the West Rand, once the COVID-19 situation settles down. It will be televised on one of their channels.

OKI Gaming will also get assistance from MSSA and Ekasi E-Sport in hosting the event.

Red Bull has supplied a monthly supply of energy drinks to help create that esport environment at the venue.

Due to the lack of a reliable internet connection and adequate computers, we are using our PS4 consoles with mouse and keyboards to assist players play Fortnite -  and that is going very well.

OKI Gaming is also running an exciting female development programme which they are hoping to use to introduce more females into mainline competitive gaming and see more females earn Provincial, National, and Protea Colours.

OKI Gaming is also part of a group with the Stellenbosch University students to do a case study on esport and our business as part of their research project.

With MSSA's assistance, OKI Gaming officials, are looking at making an application to the National Lottery Trust Fund (NLTF). Such applications are available to all MSSA member clubs that have at least two year's Audited Annual Financial Statements.

Unfortunately many organizations to which the club has reached out are not able to assist due to their strain from the pandemic.

With much of the club's 'war-chest' from 2020 being depleted, the club could be looking at the end of  the road should support not be forthcoming anytime soon.

Thus the club, Oki Gaming, has embarked on a crowdfunding project. 

You can help a lot, not only by just supporting, but also by sharing about the club's project, so please have a look! https://www.airfunding.net/s/1544ff18-4b4b-4582-ab7a-40fc5df11c57

OKI Gaming is on the move.

OKI Gaming is up and ready for the 2021 year. The club has moved into a new facility (out of our old shack into a new house), and has been setting it up and finalizing its trai8ing schedule so that it can continue to train and teach players games other than EA's efootball sports title of FIFA. 

 OKI Gaming will be focusing on fighting games for the next 4 months (Street Fighter 5, Tekken 7 and Dragon Ball Z Fighter). After that the club will move into the realm of First Person Shooters (FPS) for 4 months. The club will concentrate on (Call of Duty, Apex Legends and Fortnite).

The club will then concentrate on sport games in the last stretch of the year as most new sport games are released after August of each year.

The club also intends to hold "biweekly tournaments", through which the club can assess the progress of each player being taught/developed, and monthly tournaments for the FIFA esports title, to generally accommodate the community. The management of OKI Gaming realize that the growth of any club is utterly dependent on having sustainable and effective outreach programmes.

However, all the above depends on the situation apropos COVID-19, but the club remains confident that things will work out well, given the solid foundations laid in 2020.

The club, based in Simunye (Westonaria), affiliated to Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA) is "a shining light in terms of development among the community", according to MSSA President Amanda Kwaza.  

Also read:

• MSSA elections allow change and growth.
• MSSA remains a dynamic institution.
• Preventing dominance by any one club.
• Advantages of affiliation
• Calendar of  Events: 2021
• Affiliation: Schools
• Affiliation: Private clubs
• Esports titles selected: MSSA's High School Championships.
• Esports titles selected: MSSA's Student Championships
• Esports titles selected: MSSA's Premier Championships.
• Notices: MSSA's new Players' Representative - Jessie Joubert (ZAG Academy
• Notices: Lenel Human makes history.
• Notices: Sahil Ebrahim of PES Society elected as MSSA's Western Cape Provincial Director.
• Notices: Derby events
• Notices: Publishing your club news.
• Notices: Transfer season
• 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.

Colin Webster to be interviewed by Lester Kiewet on CapeTalk 567AM.

Colin Webster shall be interviewed apropos the growth of esports.

Lester Kiewit is a writer for the Mail & Guardian by day and presenter by night. Rather than looking back at the news of the day, Lester explores new subjects and new perspectives.

Through his shows, Lester will tackle any issue but will also look at the humour in the news cycle pointing out some of the bizarre statements and stories that make headlines.

With the recent news of the Fortnite championships being won by a 16 year old, Lester will be delving into the evolving era of esports, and will thus interview Mind Sports South Africa's General secretary, Coin Webster.

The interview will take place at 21H30 tonight, on Wednesday, 31 July 2019. Listeners can tune in on radio, or listen to the live stream on  http://www.capetalk.co.za/.

Dr. Janine Brandt steps forward to promote gender equality in gaming.

Out to make a difference - Dr. Janine Brandt.

Having been a Registered Player since 2017 with Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA), Janine has many years of experience in gaming.

Having started at a young age with the first Nintendo Entertainment System, progressing through console gaming and settling finally with PC gaming. A varied and wide-reaching interest in all types of games; MOBA’s, MMO’s, RPG’s, FPS’s, strategy based games and more, playing popular titles such as League of Legends, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, Fortnite, PUBG, Rainbow 6 Siege, Tomb Raider, Borderlands and more.

Janine has not limited herself to a single playstyle, and has committed herself to life long-learning. Having started outin casual gaming, Janine has since entered into the vast world of competitive esports and taken part in local, provincial, and national tournaments.

Very passionate about the gender equality in the gaming industry and making more opportunities available for females, as well as promoting health, healthy living and the health benefits associated with gaming in fellow gamers. Currently focused on a competitive esports career in the popular title League of Legends.

With the resignation of Blair Hamberger (due to personal reasons), MSSA's Board has co-opted Janine to oversee the role of Womens' Desk.

The position itself calls for a person of strong character and resolute in purpose. The holder of the position is to evaluate all rules and processes to ensure that the right of women are enforced and that gender equality is enforced.

MSSA President, Amanda Pakade, is delighted with the addition, and has stated, "That with the inclusion of Dr. Janine Brandt onto the Board, MSSA will climb to even higher heights."

Also read:

• Blair Hamberger elected to MSSA's MANCOM

Important notice: MSSA drops the esports title 'Fortnite' from its provincial and national events.

Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA) is South Africa's governing body for esports.

The esports title 'Fortnite' was played at Mind Sports South Africa's 9th Online Schools' Provincial Championships.

However, due to difficulties in obtaining servers for the game, and the fact that South Africa has a 16 age restriction on the game, MSSA's Board has agreed that the esports title 'Fortnite' will no longer be hosted at MSSA Provincial and National Championships.

Thus the schedules for MSSA's events are thus amended to read as folllows:

Premier provincial and national championships.

SATURDAY:
Time	Paladins	League of Legends (LoL)	FIFA’19	HearthStone	Street Fighter V	Clash Royal
09H00	Round 1 Starts	Round 1 Starts	Round 1 Starts	Round 1 Starts	Round 1 Starts	Round 1 Starts
09H45	Round 1 Continues	Round 1 Continues	Round 1 Continues	Round 1 Continues	Round 1 Continues	Round 1 Continues
10H30	Round 2 Starts	Round 2 Starts	Round 2 Starts	Round 2 Starts	Round 2 Starts	Round 2 Starts
11H15	Round 2 Continues	Round 2 Continues	Round 2 Continues	Round 2 Continues	Round 2 Continues	Round 2 Continues
12H00	Round 3 Starts	Round 3 Starts	Round 3 Starts	Round 3 Starts	Round 3 Starts	Round 3 Starts
12H45	Round 3 Continues	Round 3 Continues	Round 3 Continues	Round 3 Continues	Round 3 Continues	Round 3 Continues
13H00	LUNCH
Time	Paladins (continued)	LoL (continued)	FIFA’19 (continued)	HearthStone (continued)	Street Fighter V (continued	Clash Royal (continued)
14H00	Round 4 Starts	Round 4 Starts	Round 4 Starts	Round 4 Starts	Round 4 Starts	Round 4 Starts
14H45	Round 4 Continues	Round 4 Continues	Round 4 Continues	Round 4 Continues	Round 4 Continues	Round 4 Continues
15H30	Round 5 Starts	Round 5 Starts	Round 5 Starts	Round 5 Starts	Round 5 Starts	Round 5 Starts
16H15	Round 5 Continues	Round 5 Continues	Round 5 Continues	Round 5 Continues	Round 5 Continues	Round 5 Continues
17H00
18H00	Awards Ceremony
19H00	Doors Close
SUNDAY:
Time	Counter Strike	Dota 2	TEKKEN 7
09H00	Round 1 Starts	Round 1 Starts	Round 1 Starts
09H45	Round 1 Continues	Round 1 Continues	Round 1 Continues
10H30	Round 2 Starts	Round 2 Starts	Round 2 Starts
11H15	Round 2 Continues	Round 2 Continues	Round 2 Continues
12H00	Round 3 Starts	Round 3 Starts	Round 3 Starts
12H45	Round 3 Continues	Round 3 Continues	Round 3 Continues
13H00	LUNCH
Time	Counter Strike (continued)	Dota 2 (continued)	TEKKEN 7 (continued)
14H00	Round 4 Starts	Round 4 Starts	Round 4 Starts
14H45	Round 4 Continues	Round 4 Continues	Round 4 Continues
15H30	Round 5 Starts	Round 5 Starts	Round 5 Starts
16H15	Round 5 Continues	Round 5 Continues	Round 5 Continues
17H00
18H00	Awards Ceremony
19H00	Doors Close

Student provincial and national championships.

SATURDAY:
Time	Paladins PC/PS4	FIFA’19	Call of Duty Black Ops 4
09H00	Round 1 Starts	Round 1 Starts	Round 1 Starts
09H45	Round 1 Continues	Round 1 Continues	Round 1 Continues
10H30	Round 2 Starts	Round 2 Starts	Round 2 Starts
11H15	Round 2 Continues	Round 2 Continues	Round 2 Continues
12H00	Round 3 Starts	Round 3 Starts	Round 3 Starts
12H45	Round 3 Continues	Round 3 Continues	Round 3 Continues
13H00	LUNCH
Time	Paladins (continued)	FIFA’19 (continued)	Call of Duty Black Ops 4 (continued)
14H00	Round 4 Starts	Round 4 Starts	Round 4 Starts
14H45	Round 4 Continues	Round 4 Continues	Round 4 Continues
15H30	Round 5 Starts	Round 5 Starts	Round 5 Starts
16H15	Round 5 Continues	Round 5 Continues	Round 5 Continues
17H00
18H00	Awards Ceremony
19H00	Doors Close
SUNDAY:
Time	Counter Strike	League of Legends (LoL)	Dota 2	TEKKEN 7
09H00	Round 1 Starts	Round 1 Starts	Round 1 Starts	Round 1 Starts
09H45	Round 1 Continues	Round 1 Continues	Round 1 Continues	Round 1 Continues
10H30	Round 2 Starts	Round 2 Starts	Round 2 Starts	Round 2 Starts
11H15	Round 2 Continues	Round 2 Continues	Round 2 Continues	Round 2 Continues
12H00	Round 3 Starts	Round 3 Starts	Round 3 Starts	Round 3 Starts
12H45	Round 3 Continues	Round 3 Continues	Round 3 Continues	Round 3 Continues
13H00	LUNCH
Time	Counter Strike (continued)	LoL (continued)	Dota 2 (continued)	TEKKEN 7 (continued)
14H00	Round 4 Starts	Round 4 Starts	Round 4 Starts	Round 4 Starts
14H45	Round 4 Continues	Round 4 Continues	Round 4 Continues	Round 4 Continues
15H30	Round 5 Starts	Round 5 Starts	Round 5 Starts	Round 5 Starts
16H15	Round 5 Continues	Round 5 Continues	Round 5 Continues	Round 5 Continues
17H00
18H00	Awards Ceremony
19H00	Doors Close

High School provincial and national championships.

SATURDAY:
Time	Paladins PC/PS4	FIFA’19	PES mobile	Clash Royal
09H00	Round 1 Starts	Round 1 Starts	Round 1 Starts	Round 1 Starts
09H45	Round 1 Continues	Round 1 Continues	Round 1 Continues	Round 1 Continues
10H30	Round 2 Starts	Round 2 Starts	Round 2 Starts	Round 2 Starts
11H15	Round 2 Continues	Round 2 Continues	Round 2 Continues	Round 2 Continues
12H00	Round 3 Starts	Round 3 Starts	Round 3 Starts	Round 3 Starts
12H45	Round 3 Continues	Round 3 Continues	Round 3 Continues	Round 3 Continues
13H00	LUNCH
Time	Paladins (continued)	FIFA’19 (continued)	PES mobile (continued)	Clash Royal (continued)
14H00	Round 4 Starts	Round 4 Starts	Round 4 Starts	Round 4 Starts
14H45	Round 4 Continues	Round 4 Continues	Round 4 Continues	Round 4 Continues
15H30	Round 5 Starts	Round 5 Starts	Round 5 Starts	Round 5 Starts
16H15	Round 5 Continues	Round 5 Continues	Round 5 Continues	Round 5 Continues
17H00
18H00	Awards Ceremony
19H00	Doors Close
SUNDAY:
Time	Counter Strike	League of Legends (LoL)	Dota 2	Hearthstone	Street Fighter V
09H00	Round 1 Starts	Round 1 Starts	Round 1 Starts	Round 1 Starts	Round 1 Starts
09H45	Round 1 Continues	Round 1 Continues	Round 1 Continues	Round 1 Continues	Round 1 Continues
10H30	Round 2 Starts	Round 2 Starts	Round 2 Starts	Round 2 Starts	Round 2 Starts
11H15	Round 2 Continues	Round 2 Continues	Round 2 Continues	Round 2 Continues	Round 2 Continues
12H00	Round 3 Starts	Round 3 Starts	Round 3 Starts	Round 3 Starts	Round 3 Starts
12H45	Round 3 Continues	Round 3 Continues	Round 3 Continues	Round 3 Continues	Round 3 Continues
13H00	LUNCH
Time	Counter Strike (continued)	LoL (continued)	Dota 2 (continued)	Hearthstone (continued)	Street Fighter V (continued
14H00	Round 4 Starts	Round 4 Starts	Round 4 Starts	Round 4 Starts	Round 4 Starts
14H45	Round 4 Continues	Round 4 Continues	Round 4 Continues	Round 4 Continues	Round 4 Continues
15H30	Round 5 Starts	Round 5 Starts	Round 5 Starts	Round 5 Starts	Round 5 Starts
16H15	Round 5 Continues	Round 5 Continues	Round 5 Continues	Round 5 Continues	Round 5 Continues
17H00
18H00	Awards Ceremony
19H00	Doors Close

Also read:

• The new national team selection criteria.

• 2019 Calendar of Events