There are two types of gamer...

Robert Botha in action in Andong, South Korea.

Without doubt Robert 'PandaTank' Botha was one of the greatest gamers ever produced by South Africa. Robert first represented South Africa at IeSF's 3rd World Championships - Andong (2011), IeSF's 4th World Championships - Cheonan (2012), and in the test match against Romania held in Johannesburg against Romania (Silvui 'NightEnd' Lazar) which was held in Johannesburg in 2013 in MSSA's Protea Esports Teams. As an individual, Robert also played in privately owned competitions such as 'Dreamhack' and ESWC. At one stage Robert was even ranked eighth in the world by IeSF.

However, all good things come to an end, and Robert retired from professional gaming in 2014.

Nevertheless, Robert was a perfect example of a South African who competed in international events as well as in privately owned events held outside of South Africa. ties that got him Robert's dedication, self-discipline, enthusiasm, passion, and determination were the qualities that got him to the top echelons of gaming.

Robert, thus falls neatly into the first type of gamer.

The first type of gamer who is desirous of getting into a national team in order to compete at the highest levels. Once in international competition, such gamer 'ups' his/her game in order to re-qualify for the team in order to continue to compete at such level. It becomes a  passion to compete at the highest levels, and the gamer doubles his/her efforts to improve his/her game.

Then there is the second type of gamer. This type of gamer sees international competition as part of his/her 'bucket-list'. In other words, the act of getting into a national team just becomes another item on his/her list of life-experiences. Generally speaking, this type of gamer, on returning from international competition, drops out of mainstream competition as he/she has achieved his/her objectives.

Of course, Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA) always attempts to put the first type of gamer into its  National Protea Teams. However, the acid test is when the gamers come up against international competition, when the intense ferocity of the highest level of play either tempers or breaks the resolve of the gamers at such event.

Principles of war!

Bookmarks indicating the 'Principles of War' and the 'Characteristics of  blitzkrieg'.

Going through an old chest of drawers, I chanced upon a couple of bookmarks that I was given back in the 1980's.

On the front are the 'Principles of War' and on the reverse there are the 'Characteristics of  blitzkrieg'.

There is no doubt that the various 'Principles of War' may be applied to wargames in full detail. The player who applies all  the various principles of war is more likely to defeat his opponent.

But can the above-named principles be applied to computer games like CounterStrike, DotA 2, League of Legends, StarCraft II, and so forth.

However, chatting to a few well-known international professional gamers, all three agreed that the principles could be used when in training and be applied during competition play.

Since all of the computer games mentioned in this article are games that rely heavily on tactics, the strategies used should include all of the principles.

When looking at the test match that was played between Romania (Silviu 'NightEnd' Lazar) and South Africa (Robert 'PandaTank' Botha) in 2013, you will note that Silviu applied most of the principles to his game. As a result 'NightEnd' proved himself to be the better player and won the test match.

However, how the 'Principles of War' are applied to each game may differ due to the different mechanisms of play, but such principles are a vital part of play.

International competitions!

SA teams from 2012

Quite frankly any South African gamer not trying to get into international competition through the official sport structure, being Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA) is either just a recreational gamer, or plain delusional.

Since 2005 Mind Sports South Africa has sent a team every single year to compete on the international stage.

It really does not matter whether it was by sending the team overseas, or bringing the top-of-the-line gamers to South Africa.

There are few gamers who will not, with some emotion, remember SK Gaming at the 2008 AfriCon Championships, and Silvui 'NightEnd' Lazar in 2013.

Thus,  through MSSA's association with the IeSF, MSSA has been afforded the opportunity to even send a greater of number of players overseas than ever before. From what started back in 2005 with MSSA sending small exploratory teams overseas, the South African teams have become larger and far more successful.

Currently IeSF ranks South Africa as the 12th best team.

The ranking isn't half bad.

If you consider that only 20 nations compete in the cricket World Cup, basically the South African eSports team performs better than the SA cricket team.

Thus it  is my opinion that only those who try and get  into the national Protea team are actually competitive enough to participate in international events.

The  others in my opinion are quite content to stay in local competitions.

MSSA leads and other follow...

Talent may be found everywhere!

Looking  back at  MSSA's  involvement in eSports, it has beginning to become  far clearer that MSSA leads and all  other gaming bodies follow.

Even going back to 2005 when MSSA started  its online gaming league, it was others that copied the MSSA league and then called it its own.

Consequently  after 2009 MSSA ceased running its  on-line  league as  the recreational purposes of  the league were being  taken care of, and  MSSA was able to concentrate on its core business of getting Protea Teams  ready for international competition.
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Part of getting teams  ready was the programme of bringing top players out to South Africa.

In 2008,  MSSA brought out SK Gaming to  help get South African players  to understand what is required  in  international  competition.

Then again, thanks to MegaRom and Internet Solutions, MSSA brought out Silvui 'NightEnd' Lazar.

Both events proved  to be most enjoyable and helped many players understand just what is  needed to make it  on an  international stage.

To  create a truly top international  team, development has to be extended to as many of South Africa's  regions.

It is really only MSSA, through  its  sponsorship from MWEB, that  incurs the expense of operating championships  in the less profitable areas of South Africa.

If eSports  is to transform in South Africa, then there must be championships  held  in every part of South Africa so that all latent talent may  be discovered and developed.

Legacy of the Void® levels the playing-field!

Nathan 'StatiC' Anderson - one of SA's most 'capped' cyber-athletes!

The IeSF's 7^th World championships to be held in Seoul from the 2^nd to the 5^th of November 2015 will be the first major championship in which StarCraft™: Legacy of the Void® will be played.

The title Legacy of the Void® was only released in November 2015 by BLIZZARD.

Thus with the new tactics and stratagems that will need to be used to take the new units into account, MSSA is confident that even though the field at the IeSF's 7^th World championships is full of some of the best gamers, MWEB Protea eSports Team member, Nathan Anderson should do well.

Silviu 'NightEnd' Lazar, of Romania, who consistently finishes in the medals at the World

Silviu Lazar in South Africa

Championships, will again be present and will be just one of the players to beat. Silvui too is the only top international player who has visited South Africa. Silvui attended a test match in 2013 between Romania (Silvui 'NightEnd' Lazar) and South Africa (Robert 'PandaTank' Botha) in which Romania won two games to one!

This is the third time that Nathan will officially represent South Africa in international competition, and Nathan has a proven record of being able to adapt to new situations and perform under stress.

Nathan, like MSSA, feels that the new version has levelled the playing-field more than ever before.

Mind Sports South Africa is thus quite excited about Nathan's chances.

The list of StarCraft™ players at the IeSF's 7^th World championships are:

COUNTRY	NAME	TEAM	NICKNAME	BIRTH
Azerbaijan	Pavel, Osipov	Team Azerbaijan	Pavel	1988
Belgium	Broddin, Wouter	AT Gaming	Gannicus	1992
China	Jiajun, Hu	Team China	n/a	1995
Chinese Taipei	Yu-Feng, Ko	Starcraft 2	Has	1997
Finland	Joona, Sotala	myInsanity	Serral	1998
Georgia	Tsotne, Chogovadze	Protos	Tsotne	2000
Iran	mohammadali, anari	kouroshe kabir	mohammadali	1992
Israel	Neta, Corem	Team Israel	Zanubis	1988
Korea (South)	Ga Young, Kim	Team Korea	Aphrodite	1988
Mongolia	RADNAATSEREN, Bayarmaa	Team Mongolia	Radnaa	1985
Philippines	Caviar Napoleon, Acampado	PSISTORM Gaming	EnDerr	1992
Romania	Silviu, Lazar	NRS	NightEnD	1988
Russia	Andrei, Mikheev	Empire	hobot	1989
Serbia	Aleksandar, Krstic	Team Extreme Supremacy	Beastyqt	1990
South Africa	Nathan, Anderson	MSSA	StatiC	1994
Sweden	Anton, Dahlström	Team Property	Zanster	1996
Switzerland	Eloi, Quach	Dead Pixels	Elroye	1996

Northcliff high School ready for MSSA's 2015 Championships

Northcliff High School has a long history with Mind Sports South Africa having affiliated back in 2008 when most schools viewed eSports with just a little bit of disdain.

Fortunately though, the forward thinking headmaster immediately saw the possible benefits of eSports and gave his full backing to the club and to Noelene du Toit (the teacher in charge).

As a result, the club at Northcliff High School played host to top international StarCraft player Silvui 'NightEnd' Lazar in 2013. The school too has consistently produced a plethora of players who have earned their Senior and School Provincial Colours.

However, none stand out as much as Ian Pillay and Robert Botha who went on to represent the South Africa in the Protea Team.

Although Ian only did one stint in the Protea Team in 2010, Robert Both at went on to earn himself 11 caps as a member of the Protea Team between the years of 2010 to 2013.

Robert then went on to become the only professional gamer ever produced by South Africa.

The Northcliff team was able to build on the success of the past by finishing in third place in the 2014 MSSA Inter-school eSports League just behind St John's college (in 1^st place), and Crawford College – Sandton (in 2^nd place).

Thus under the ever watchful, and stern, eyes of Noelene du Toit, Northcliff High School is readying themselves for battle in the 2015 Championships.


The team for 2015 consists of seventy-five gamers of whom six are females.

Official South African National eSports Teams - 2013

All photographs are taken from the MSSAs facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/mindsportssa/photos_albums

The BATTLEFIELD 3 TEAM:

Captain: Barry 'Anthrax' Louzada

Photo on the left shows members from the team from the Gauteng area.

The photo on the right shows members of the team from Cape Town.

StarCraft II Test Match between South Africa and Romania:

Robert 'PandaTank' Botha (South Africa) in action against Silviu 'NightEnd' Lazar (Romania)

Gabriella 'GabyBear' Isaacs at a film shoot on gaming:

Dota 2 Protea Team:

Team captain: Anthony 'Scant' Hodgson

StarCraft 2 - Dreamhack, Bucharest:

Nathan Anderson

Team eSports South Africa - 2013 IeSF World Championships:

Team captain: Lyrene Kuhn

The team participated in League of Legends, Tekken Tag Tournament II, and StarCraft 2.

PandaTank quits professional gaming

Sadly we have all seen the posts where Robert 'PandaTank' Botha has stated his resignation from gaming.

Who will ever forget PandaTank's stellar performances as part of the MSSA's official Protea eSports Team at the 2011 and 2012 IeSF World Championships as well as at the Test match between Silviu 'NightEnd' Lazar and himself in March 2013 in Johannesburg? PandaTank did much to inspire many gamers, but his star did seem to wane a little in 2013.

Seemingly the main reason given on his page is “being a professional gamer in South Africa isn't a sustainable career.” (https://www.facebook.com/PandaTank/posts/480048018761882?stream_ref=10).

But let us look at this statement, how true is it?

Is it that South African gamers have expectations that do not meet reality?

Is it that South African gamers are not prepared to put in the work that makes a professional gamer?

Certainly to be a professional gamer you need to be absolutely dedicated to the game, practice every single day, and play in as many LAN championships as possible.

Yes, you read right, you have to play as many LAN championships as possible.

With the major international competitions being LAN's gamers have to leave the confort of playing online in their comfortable bedrooms to play in the busy, noisy, hectic LANs where schedules of play override the gamer, and every gamer is just another competitor.

But more than that, the professional has to learn time management. The professional becomes a spokesperson for the company sponsoring him/her, and has to be available at all times to promote the company and to further enhance the face of gaming. Thus being a professional means that the gamer becomes a mini celebrity, signs autographs, does public appearances and must be available to the masses when in public.

In other words, a professional gamer is no different toa professional in any other sport!

So then, is professional gaming really not a sustainable career?

The answer is simply that it can be sustainable, but with conditions.

The most important condition is that gaming is NOT a long term career. The gaming career is very short, and must be used as a stepping-stone to other careers that are more long-term.

Many gamers in Europe go from being players through to team managers and may even end up as team owners.

Not only that, but sponsorships are vital.

The only way that a company is going to sponsor is if they are getting a return. All companies are looking for increased sales. If the sponsorship will not lead to greater brand awareness, there will be no sponsorship.

But, this all needs to be properly managed.

And how is this done?

Simply, there are many professional sports agents – go to them. The sports agents understand the marketplace and the value of cold, hard cash. Although the sports agent will take a cut, the agent will help the gamer get the best possible deal.

So, in conclusion, professional gaming can be sustainable.

It must be remembered that PandaTank was a trailblazer. He was the first true professional gamer in South Africa. Because he did not maintain a long sustainable professional gaming career in South Africa does not mean that other will not!

We should all learn from PandaTank's experiences to see what should be done, what can be done, and what must be done....

Maybe PandaTank should arrange some lectures on the ins-and-outs of professional gaming.

I know that I would pay to hear him speak!