Milestones.

MSSA's BF2142 team that went to Taiwan in 2006.

Many will know that Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA) sent its first team across in 1991 to the World Wargames Championships. MSSA (then known as the South African Wargames Union) too took part in the meeting at Vanderbijlpark (as featured in the film Invictus) which decided the fate of the Springbok emblem. Thus in 1994, MSSA moved away from the Springbok logo and adopted the Protea.

It seems that in every year that MSSA reaches new heights an creates new milestones on its journey.

2016 was no different, and MSSA certainly created some impressive milestones, the most important being:

* Thomas Brown became SA's first accredited international referee.

* Thomas Brown refereed the World Cyber Arena finals in Beijing.

* Jason Batzofin was elected on to IeSF's Athletes' Commission.

* Colin Webster was re-elected on to IeSF's Management Board.
* Morizane Boyes became the first female President of MSSA.
* MSSA held its 30th National Championships on 3 & 4 December 2016.
* Rules were amended to allow MSSA to be the only SA sport federation with true gender equity.

However, none of it would have been possible without the participation of each and every level. All members made a contribution to help MSSA grow and survive.

Thank you, one and all.

Things don't come easy

Gaming has always had a problem in South Africa, whether it be the poor infrastructure, the high unemployment rate, the (at times) unreliable electricity supply, ping so high that most people from around the world would just find it totally unacceptable, or being just so far away from the mainstream.

However, we consider the above-named problems to be character forming (what doesn't kill you, makes you stronger!).

But there are advantages too!

South Africa has a wonderful piece of legislation called the Sports and Recreation Act, number 110 of 1998.

This Act makes government recognition of sports and sporting bodies almost automatic as long as the criteria are met.

Thus in South Africa, the national association called Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA) came into being in order to fight for accreditation for various types of gaming. Obviously there was resistance from the status quo, but through dogged perseverance over a six-year period, the establishment finally caved in and gave the recognition that was being requested.

That of course meant that MSSA was dragged in to all the political issues of the time. The issues were obviously to do with apartheid and the abolishment of the same. It should be noted that MSSA was even present at the meeting featured in the film 'INVICTUS' wherein President Nelson Mandela had to personally intervene in order to allow the national rugby federation to keep the 'Springbok' logo.

Thus eSports in South Africa enjoys the full benefits of being a fully accredited sport as much as what rugby, swimming, football, and tennis are considered to be.

And, there are many benefits to being seen as a fully accredited sport.

Through the accreditation a lot of the 'sting' of being so far removed from the mainstream is much diminished. As an accredited sport MSSA has been able to organise and run Regional, Provincial, and National Championships throughout South Africa, but to also initiate school championships and leagues with the full blessing of the Ministry of Education. The level of accreditation at school level is important for the growth of competitive gaming, and MSSA is currently, thanks to its sponsor MWEB, involved in a programme designed to develop gaming clubs that are based at schools.

Thus through the fully accredited events gamers are able to earn colours, and those colours are then as good as hard currency insomuch that gamers can, and do, obtain sports bursaries to attend university.

So while there are few competitions that can support sustainable prize money, gamers are offered a huge incentive to win awards that will give them the opportunity of studying further. Thus the MSSA is able to create systems that lead to more than just gaming, but to careers that can ensure the long-term sustainability of gaming in South Africa.

The formal accreditation also allows MSSA to unlock access to the National Lottery.

In fact any club in South Africa which is affiliated to MSSA is able to apply for R200,000.00 in funding per annum. However there are criteria that need to be applied. The criteria include a developmental programme must be in place and that the club must have audited financial statements. Should the criteria be met the club may receive funding that has to be spent on equipment, kit, travelling expenses and entrance fees.

The lottery funding thus is a huge benefit for those clubs that are doing things within the legal framework, while those clubs that barely pay lip service to what is legal cannot, and do not, get a 'look-in'. Of course anyone in the gaming industry is well aware that it is those who are the least compliant who are often the most vocal.

But without doubt, the most important development is the actual formation of MSSA itself. Through having a democratic institution to which the member clubs are affiliated, each and every gamer is able to have a say on what is done, how it is done, and who does it.

It is only through such a type of association that the gamer really can make him/herself heard in a forum in which decisions are taken. It is through this type of structure that the gamer can take control over their own futures and help push gaming in the direction that they want to see it go.

Such a structure too creates a greater protection for the gamer as the organisation is not owned by anyone. No-one has a vested interest in it or may make financial gain from it. Its sole purpose is to serve the gamer.

However, it must be remembered that the organisation itself is a product of its environment, and even with its accreditation, there are still great challenges that lie before it.

THE MSSA’S VISION FOR eSPORTS

From the day that the MSSA was founded (1984), the MSSA has had to fight to have the games that the MSSA promotes to be recognised to be accredited as equals to any of the other sports that exist in South Africa.

The MSSA was thus accepted into membership of the following:

• The Confederation of South African Sport (COSAS) in 1991
• T he National Olympic Sports Council of South Africa (NOCSA) in 1991
• The National Sports Council (NSC) in 1994. The NSC was the end result of COSAS and NOCSA merging.
• The South African Sports Commission (SASC) 1999 until dissolved
• The South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) in 2005. 

Springbok colours

The breakthrough happened in 1991 when the MSSA was allowed to award Springbok Colours to its wargames team. The MSSA awarded Springbok Colours for the period 1991 to 1994.

In 1994 the MSSA participated in the NSC meeting that was immortalised in the film named 'Invictus' whereat the National Federations assembled agreed to replace the Springbok with the Protea.

In 1997, the MSSA awarded Protea Colours to its Morabaraba team, and in 2001 the MSSA was allowed to award Protea Colours to the players who represented South Africa for Checkers.

Protea badge

However, it was not until 2005 that the MSSA was granted permission by the Protea Colours Board for Computer Gaming.

It should be noted that the Protea Colours awarded are the same as awarded to cricket, rugby, swimming, etc.

Even though the mere act of awarding colours is laudable in itself, in that players who receive such colours are enable to apply for, and receive, bursaries at universities, the MSSA’s vision does not end there.

The MSSA is a member of the International eSports Federation (IeSF). In 2010, the MSSA help found the IeDF (the international federation for gamers with disabilities). Through such affiliation the groundwork has been done to have eSports established and accredited as an international sport by the General Assembly of International Sport Federations (GAISF). When the GAISF accepts eSports as an international Sport, a whole new era will be ushered in as the games will be allowed to participate in the International Mind Sports Association’s Games, and be included in the All Africa Games, the Commonwealth Games, and possibly even in the Olympic Games.