Nominations required by 31 August 2021 for MSSA's Management Board Awards.

It was under Ms. Amanda Pakade's leadership as President of MSSA that the scope of the MANCOM awards were widened.

Mind Sports South Africa's Management Board Awards are the longest running awards for gaming in South Africa. The awards take into account all the various disciplines being, board gaming, card gaming, esports, and wargaming.

It could even be argued that such awards are the longest running awards for rewarding such athletes in the world having started in 2009. Whereas the long running awards (like BAFTA) acknowledge the games themselves, MSSA's Management Board Awards acknowledge the contribution made by the very gamers/athletes themselves. 

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 and even beyond South Africa's borders.

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.

It should be noted by the reader that the categories for Writer of the Year, Social Media Person of the Year, and Sponsor of the Year are open categories and apply to anyone that has given their 'all' to the development of boardgames, card games, esports, and wargames as a sport.

The awards now take into account 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

MSSA's Management Board requests all members to make submissions by 31 August 2021.

The names of previous winners may be seen on https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mind_Sports_South_Africa#Management_Board_Awards

Also read:

• Affiliation: Schools
• Affiliation: Private clubs
• Affiliation: Advantages of affiliation
• Calendar of  Events: 2021
• Colours: Regional Colours
• Colours:2021 South African National High School Colours - Esports 
• Colours:2021 South African National Primary School Colours - Esports 
• Entry Dates: All championships
• Esports titles selected: MSSA's High School Championships.
• Esports titles selected: MSSA's Student Championships
• Esports titles selected: MSSA's Premier Championships.
• Events: Free State Online Championships - Saturday, 7 August 2021
• Events: MSSA Online School League - Friday, 10 July 2021.
• Events: 2021 National Team Trials - 21 August 2021
• Ladder: National Ladder Champions
• Notices: 2021 MSSA Management Board Awards.
• Notices: Annual General Meeting - Board positions
• Notices: Celebrating MSSA's female Protea athletes.
• Notices: Opportunities for female esports athletes.
• 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: Derby events -the way forward.
• Notices: For our children's children... 
• Notices: Learners may play for both private and school clubs.
• Notices: League of Legends re-instated.
• Notices: Home schooling
• Notices: Publishing your club news.
• Notices: Transfer season
• Notices: Calling all those wishing to serve as Selectors to volunteer
• Notices: The various events held by Mind Sports South Africa.
• Qualifiers: Counter-Strike: GO
• Rankings: Clash Royale
• Rankings: Counter-Strike: GO
• Rankings: Morabaraba
• Rankings: Pro Evolution Soccer (PES)
• Results: 2021 Combined Online Provincial Schools Championships
• Results: 2021 Gauteng Online Championships
• Results: 2021 South African Online National High School Esports Championships
• Results:  Western Cape Online Provincial Championships
• Selection: New National Team Selection Criteria
• Selection: Selecting the national Protea teams for Mind Sports South Africa.
• Test Match results: South African Protea DotA 2 team rises triumphant.
• Test Match results: DOTA2: South Africa vs Azerbaijan
• Trailblazers: Michelle Marder

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

Huge revisions done to MSSA's Constitution and Regulations.

Amanda Pakade, MSSA president, is responsible for overseeing the changes agreed to at the AGM.

Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA) saw its Annual  General Meeting (AGM) being held on 1 December 2018.

There were 13 changes  proposed to amend the Constitution, and 36 proposed changes to the Regulations.

Many of the changes had been discussed from the beginning of 2018 by the Management Board, and such changes were often hotly debated.

The amendments ranged from simple housekeeping, in other words correcting grammar, and so forth, to more far reaching issues such as improved good governance, better selection criteria for the national teams, improved delegation of duties, and better delivery to its members.

Not a single proposed amendment was rejected, and even more surprisingly, the member clubs spoke with a single voice as the motions were all unanimously accepted.

The amendments shall be further discussed in future blogs, and it should be noted that the amendments are all designed to make MSSA more streamlined, more competitive, and far more forward thinking.

Also read:

• Why MSSA governs itself the way it does
• Some questions about Mind Sports South Africa

And the 2018 Management Board Awards are awarded to...

Back in 2009, Mind Sport South Africa (MSSA) started its Management Board Awards which takes into review the period 1 October to 30 September of each year.

The Awards were designed to recognise the contribution made by those who gave selflessly, and/or made an impact, to the promotion of the various types of gaming under the jurisdiction of MSSA.

The list is a veritable 'who's-who' in South African gaming.

Even though some of the 'names' have moved on to further their prospects in business, Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA) shall always fondly remember the winners and the incredible contribution that they made towards gaming.

Special thanks must be extended to Tamzyn Pamplin of MyComLink. Tamzyn Pamplin of MyComLink, has won the press award for two years in a row.

The support given by MyComLink, to all sports, is truly phenomenol, and is very much appreciated.

The Management Board has agreed to award the following:

Award	Recipient	Club/organisation
Mind Sports Person of the Year:	Jessie Joubert	ZAG Academy
Board Gamer of the Year:	Chanel De Wet	JCS Academy
Computer Gamer of the Year:	Marisa van Der Westhuizen	ZAG Academy
Wargamer of the Year:	Terence Allwright	Old Edwardian Mind Sports Club
Volunteer of the Year:	Johan van Breda	ZAG Academy
Mind Sports Writer of the Year:	Tamzyn Pamplin	MyComLink
Best Sponsor of the Year:	TULUNTULU

Reminder: 31 January 2018 is the deadline.

Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA) shall be holding its 1st Executive Meeting on Saturday, 24 February 2018 directly after the end of play.

Thus all member clubs are invited to submit any matters that they feel need to be addressed by MSSA's Executive Committee by the end of business of Wednesday, 31 January 2018.

The Executive Committee consists of all members of the Management Board, and one nominated member from each affiliated member.

Thus every member club has its opportunity to participate in the affairs of MSSA.

It should be noted that the Management Board is accountable to the Executive Committee, and that the authority of the Executive Committee is only second to that of MSSA's Council.

An agenda will be produced by 2 February 2018 and circulated to all member clubs, which shall be accompanied by a proxy form, so that each and every member club will be able to have its say.

MSSA has approved its schedule for all Provincial and National LAN championships.

Once the doors close on the Annual General Meeting (AGM), the real  work begins as MSSA's Management Board (MANCOM) starts getting everything ready for the new year.

Yes, things do not just happen on their own, and yes, there is a great deal of back-end work that has to take place in order to make things happen.

Thus MSSA's MANCOM has already approved the new schedule for all Premier Provincial and National esports championships.

By having every such Premier Provincial and National championship played to the same schedule, gamers are able to become used to the schedule and the procedures enforced at such championships.

Gamers are requested to thus make themselves  aware of the championship schedule and to also note the changes in terms of games/titles hosted at such events.

The schedule is as follows:

Saturday
Time	StarCraft II	FIFA ‘18	Hearthstone	Ultimate Street Fighter V	Counter Strike GO
09H00	Round 1 Starts	Round 1 Starts	Round 1 Starts	Round 1 Starts	Round 1 Starts
09H45	Round 2 Starts	Round 1 Continues	Round 2 Starts	Round 1 Continues	Round 1 Continues
10H30	Round 3 Starts	Round 2 Starts	Round 3 Starts	Round 2 Starts	Round 2 Starts
11H15	Round 4 Starts	Round 2 Continues	Round 4 Starts	Round 2 Continues	Round 2 Continues
12H00	Round 5 Starts	Round 3 Starts	Round 5 Starts	Round 3 Starts	Round 3 Starts
12H45		Round 3 Continues		Round 3 Continues	Round 3 Continues
13H00	LUNCH
Time		FIFA ‘18 (continued)		Ultimate Street Fighter V (continued	Counter Strike GO (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	Dota	League of Legends (LoL)	PES (Pro Evolution Soccer)	Rocket League	TEKKEN 7
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 2 Starts	Round 1 Continues
10H30	Round 2 Starts	Round 2 Starts	Round 2 Starts	Round 3 Starts	Round 2 Starts
11H15	Round 2 Continues	Round 2 Continues	Round 2 Continues	Round 4 Starts	Round 2 Continues
12H00	Round 3 Starts	Round 3 Starts	Round 3 Starts	Round 5 Starts	Round 3 Starts
12H45	Round 3 Continues	Round 3 Continues	Round 3 Continues		Round 3 Continues
13H00	LUNCH
Time	Dota (continued)	LoL (continued)	PES (continued)		Round 4 Starts
14H00	Round 4 Starts	Round 4 Starts	Round 4 Starts		Round 4 Continues
14H45	Round 4 Continues	Round 4 Continues	Round 4 Continues		Round 5 Starts
15H30	Round 5 Starts	Round 5 Starts	Round 5 Starts		Round 5 Continues
16H15	Round 5 Continues	Round 5 Continues	Round 5 Continues
17H00
18H00	Awards Ceremony
19H00	Doors Close

Also read:

• Titles selected for all Premier online and LAN championships for the 2018 year.

• Titles selected for all school online and LAN championships and leagues for the 2018 year.

MSSA - Bigger, better, stronger!

Morizane Boyes - president of  Mind Sports South Africa.

MSSA's 7th Schools Online Championships has certainly proved that MSSA has what it takes.

Even though there are more schools than ever before affiliated to MSSA, MSSA ran a highly successful championship for which MSSA has only received praise from Educators, parents and learners alike. The number of private clubs has also grown substantially while the old stalwarts remain and improve upon the foundation. There is a hard-core of member clubs that have had continuous membership since the 1980's.

This all comes from the Management Board's unified approach to resolving, and, deliberating upon issues. 

MSSA speaks with one voice, as all decisions are voted upon and are passed by majority vote. No individual may make decisions for MSSA without first obtaining the right to do so from the Management Board as a whole.

MSSA is governed by committee that operates entirely within the framework of its Constitution and Regulations.

The goals, vision, and objectives remain fixed, as usual, on obtaining greater membership, and the delivery of Regional, Provincial, and National teams across all of its disciplines.

Thus MSSA is, remains, and will continue to be the largest recognised association for gamers in South Africa.