Accrediting people.

Gabriella Isaacs - second  in StarCraft II (females) at IeSF's 4th World Championships - Cheonan.

Over the years Mind Sports South Africa has done everything within its power, and budget, to develop teams for international competition.

The system used by MSSA has allowed many players to benefit and thereby earn National and Protea Colours.

Even after excluding National Colours awarded to Board games, Robotics and Wargames (164 Registered Players since 1985), eSports Registered Players have received 133 such awards from 2005.

This means that there is a great deal of 'upward mobility' where players are regularly replaced 'Young Turks'.  

This is even more surprising when a number of players (8) have remained in the team for a couple, or more, years.

The scale of MSSA's involvement in IeSF events can only be lauded as seen by the number of players that have benefitted from such competition.

However, it is all about accrediting people.

The awards may be nice to make people  feel  really good about themselves, but the involvement in a national team is life-changing and is an education in itself.

And that is what MSSA is all about.

The  numbers of players that have officially represented South Africa in eSports are:

Year	# of National Players (overseas)	# of National players (Test Match in SA)	# of National Players (online test matches)	Annual total
2016	12	0	3	15
2015	8	0	16	24
2014	10	0	5	15
2013	10	1	15	26
2012	4 (1)	0	9	13
2011	5 (2)	0	0	5
2010	9	0	0	9
2009	4	0	0	4
2008	1	5	0	6
2007	1	0	0	1
2006	10	0	0	10
2005	5 (3)	0	0	5
TOTAL	79	6	48	133

Notes:

1. Gabriella Isaacs won silver at IeSF's 4th World Championships - Cheonan.
2. Jaco Engelbrecht won silver at IeSA - Jeju.
3. Logan Brooke-Smith won gold at World Cyber Games.

Developments at the IeSA

Prof Sok-Rok Song (left) and Jaco Engelbrecht (right)

The MSSA stated in a recent facebook posting that it learnt with shock that the General Secretary, Prof. Sok-Rok Song, had resigned from his position on the IeSA (being the International eSports Federation for the Differently Abled).

The IeSA is the successor to the IeSMoD which was founded in 2011. However after a change of constitution, and change of name, the IeSA was born.

All those who ever participated in the IeSMoD or the IeSA will always be indebted to Prof. Sok-Rok Song for all the work that he put into making the IeSA a success.

According to Lim Puay Tiak, it will be difficult to replace  Prof. Sok-Rok Song as he was a prime mover and was always able to secure sufficient funding.

Apparently the President of the IeSA, President Lim, has taken over the reigns and is directly co-ordinating the IeSA's affairs.

Few South Africans though will ever forget the successes shared by Jaco Engelbrecht and Jason van Belkum at the IeSA World Championships on the island of Jeju in 2011.

The international community will always miss Prof. Sok-Rok Song, as it also wishes him every success in his future endeavours.

However, just moments ago the IeSA brought out a survey of the IeSA World Championship. Those interested may fill out the form. It takes just 5 mins.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1DMEiC23-LjosrT_zBnTCO6bO5te9p9ZUxwCzeXg-tDI/viewform?usp=send_form