In for a second term!

Prof. Andy Miah with Ryan Boyes at IeSF's 7th World Championships - Seoul.

Ever since the MSSA's Constitution was amended to allow for an eSports representative to sit on MSSA's Management Board, no one person has ever managed to hold the position for more than one term.

Nevertheless, Ryan Boyes made the bold leap of standing for a second term.

The position of eSports Representative is a position that involves an incredible amount of work. Duties for such position include:

• Helping to select the national teams,
• Manage the national teams,
• Ensure that the bye-laws for competitions are up-to-date, 
• Maintain the rankings, 
• Chair the eSports Board of Control, and
• Ensure the good-governance of esports.

 Ryan performed admirably in his first term. Under his watch South Africa earned an international  ranking of 14th.

Also under his watch, South Africa participated in no less than 14 online test matches.

Ryan's dedication and attention to detail allowed him to also elevate others to positions that were reserved for him in terms  of the Constitution and Regulations. Thus through his motives of altruism, Ryan appointed Jason Batzofin to the role of Team Manager for the Protea Team that attended IeSF's 8th World Championships - Jakarta.

It, too, was largely due to Ryan's efforts that  Thomas Brown attended IeSF's Referee Course in China. The course paid huge dividends for Thomas as he was then appointed to referee the WCA Championships.

MSSA is confident that having Ryan at the helm of eSports, eSports in South Africa will continue with its exponential growth.

A list of all eSports Representatives from 2005 is as follows:

Year	Name	Club
2017 – 2019	Ryan Boyes	BNKR Gaming
2014 – 2016	Ryan Boyes	BNKR Gaming
2012 – 2013	David Webster	Old Edwardian Wargames Club
2009 – 2011	Dr Ryan van den Bergh	Wits University Wargames Club
2006 – 2008	Johann von Backström	AGASA
2005	Rob Stevens	Knights Mind Sports Club

MSSA elections: One of the hardest positions on the Board

Four previous eSports Representatives: (from left to right) Johann von Backström (2006 - 2008), Dr Ryan van den Bergh (2009 - 2011), David Webster (2012 - 2013), Ryan Boyes (2014 - 2016)

The eSports Representative is not only a member of the Management Board, but is also the Chairperson of the eSports Board of Control.

Having to run the eSports Board of Control is not  an easy task.

eSports is the fastest growing disciplines in MSSA with the largest number of clubs,and has, without doubt the most vociferous of Registered Players.

Often it means that the person holding the position has to fight long and hard at Management Board level to ensure that the gamer's rights are protected and enforced.

In fact it is through the eSports Representatives that many of the most profound changes have been introduced into MSSA.

All the eSports Representatives have come through a solid gaming background,and in terms of MSSA's  Constitution, have to if they wish to stand for the position.

Duties of the eSports representative are:

• To chair the eSports Board of Control,
• Ensure that the bye laws for the various titles are up-to-date,
• Ensure that rankings are produced,
• Produce a budget prior to the Annual General Meeting (AGM),
• Represent the discipline of eSports on the Management Board,
• Liaise with IeSF, and
• Manage the National Team.

Through careful management on the part of the eSports Representative, MSSA has sent Protea Teams to international  events every year since 2005, and has attained the following IeSF ranking:

Year	Venue	Position
2015	Seoul -  South Korea	12th
2014	Baku -  Azerbaijan	13th
2013	Bucharest -  Romania	10th
2012	Cheonan -  South Korea	18th
2011	Andong -  South Korea	13th

Knowing the work that the position entails, it will indeed be interesting to see who stands for the position at the  2016 AGM.

Some questions about Mind Sports South Africa

Stephen Fowler de Witt has raised three questions apropos  the running of Mind Sports South Africa.

In order to create a greater awareness among gamers, the questions are answered here, 

Stephen Fowler de Witt's questions are in red, and MSSA's answers in red. 

Question 1: How many members is currently affiliated with MSSA? From that total amount of members. How many actually participate in E-sports? (I would like to know the number because the MSSA has told me before that we can join and change it from within. For us to have a majority vote, we would need the majority number of members. So it is important that this number is accurate).

Answer:

To fully understand the way in which MSSA operates, it is important to  understand the structure of MSSA.

Registered players are affiliated to clubs. Clubs are then affiliated to MSSA.

It is the club that is  the member of MSSA.

In order to operate a club, a club must have at least three Registered Players to be a legal entity. Some clubs affiliated to MSSA have over 200 registered players.

In total, there are 53 clubs  affiliated to MSSA throughout South Africa.

Since MSSA is a democratic institution, it  is important to note that all decisions made at every level are done through voting, and the majority decision always holds sway.

Question 2: Where is the current president of the MSSA? We never hear from him. Ever. Would like to communicate with him as well.

Simphiwe Maphumulo

Simphiwe Maphumulo was  elected as  the  President of Mind Sports  South Africa in December 2013. Simphiwe's term of  office comes  to  an end in December 2016 when new elections for such shall be held.

Simphiwe has served with distinction during his term of office and has had to  deal with many issues in his  portfolio.

It is not true that gamers have not heard from him. All press releases  issued are first approved  by the President before being issued by MSSA.

For people to contact the  President, they are welcome to do so by writing to MSSA's office.

Maryke Kennard receiving her Protea Colours from Ryan Boyes

Question 3: Who currently runs the E-sport sector within the MSSA? Would we be able to replace him once we all join?

The current Chairman of the eSports Board of Control is Ryan Boyes.

As stated many times previously, all positions are voted upon at the Annual General Meeting every December.

Positions  on the Management Board are all voluntary (in  other words, there is  no pay) and  are for a period of three years.

The positions available at the 2016 Annual General Meeting may be found on http://esportscommentator.blogspot.co.za/2016/03/quite-few-posts-up-for-election-at.html

As you will  no doubt notice, MSSA has publicised the positions since March 2016 so that everybody is aware of such.
Any full-paid-up Registered Player is able to stand for any position as long as a member club nominates such player,  and another member club seconds such nomination.

R8 revolver may be banned from the SA National Championships

Ryan Boyes, Chairman of MSSA's eSports Board of Control

All CounterStrike: GO players please note: Please note that players shall not be able to use the R8 revolver (which costs $850 in Counter-Strike’s mid-match currency) in the MWEB South African National Championships which are to be held on 13 December 2015 at HTS Witbank, Beyers Street, Witbank, However, such ruling by MSSA's eSports Board of Control has a caveat, which is, that if VALVE releases a patch for such weapon before Sunday, 13 December 2015, the R8 revolver will then be able to be used.

Tuks student smashes the glass ceiling at the IeSF's 7th World Championships

Maryke proved to be flexible enough to adapt to the changing circumstances and grabbed each and every opportunity as they presented themselves to her.

Maryke taking the oath

Before the championships even began, the Secretary general of the IeSF (Mr. Alex Lim), requested

At the opening ceremony, Maryke performed the oath with poise and dignity to become the first female to take the oath on behalf of all participants.

Although Maryke more than ably lead the South African League of Legends team to a stunning victory over Iran, it was, sadly, not enough to climb out of the group stage.

Maryke to take the Athlete's Oath. Maryke confided with the South African Manager (Mr. Ryan Boyes) about such and her fears about doing so, but the South African team rallied around her and encouraged Maryke to take the honour.

Reid 'RAPiD' Melton and Maryke 'Ykie' Kennard

It should too be noted that Maryke is the first female to captain a League of Legends team at such event.

However, with a shout-caster falling ill, Maryke was then drafted in to shout-cast as her own experience in this regard had not gone unnoticed by certain IeSF officials.

Thus Maryke was shoved into the forefront of a different aspect of eSports to become the first female to ever shout-cast at an IeSF World Championship.

Teamed up with Reid 'RAPiD' Melton, Maryke 'Ykie' Kennard took to shout-casting like a duck to water. Reid proved to be a great mentor and associate as he brought out the best in Maryke.

There is no doubt that Maryke has left an indelible impression on eSports which is likely to be remembered for many years to come.

Clarification on the role of Ryan Boyes

Ryan "Snowflake" Boyes handing out medals.

On Thursday, 14 May 2015, E-frag.net put up the details of the 'captains' of all the national teams on their
site: http://www.hltv.org/news/14968-world-championships-captains-unveiled

It was very pleasant to see many of the old names there who would be 'captaining' their national teams.

Immediately though, some South African gamers went berserk. “Who are these people?”, and “I do not know any of them” were the general responses before any of the gamers even bothered to ask for an explanation or for any sort f clarification on the matter.

Indeed, this seems to be the South African manner, when instead of stopping to think, ask, and deliberate, our trusty keyboard warriors just 'fly off the handle'.

The MSSA calmly wrote to E-frag.net and suggested that Ryan Boyes was indeed not the captain but was instead the manager of the team.

A swift response was returned saying, “the word 'captain' is unique to our tournament. It refers to the role of possibly being both a player and manager – which is what some of the captains are doing!”.

However, the MSSA as the National Federation (in terms of the Sport and Recreation Act) has its own rules, and the roles of manager and captain are distinct from each other.

Thus all those gamers who were quick to respond before seeking any answers from the MSSA will no doubt be pleased to know that Ryan Boyes is only the manager.

But how is Ryan appointed as the manager, I hear you ask….

Simple.

The eSports Representative, by virtue of his position, is the manager of all the National eSports Teams. Likewise the Board Gaming Representative is the Manager of all the National Board Gaming Teams, the Figure Gaming Representative is the Manager of all the National Figure Gaming Teams, the National Schools Director is the Manager of all the National Schools Teams, etc.

However, it should be noted that the above-named office-bearers do have the power to appoint another fully-paid-up member to act in their stead.

And, this is important, only fully-paid-up Registered Players can act as office-bearers ((on any level) of the MSSA.

As soon as the team has been approved, the MSSA shall announce the entire official South African MWEB Protea eSports Team for Counterstrike: GO squad for the 2015 season.

MSSA creates on-line championship for CS: GO

The MSSA's eSports Board of Control has made some important revisions to the Calendar of Events. Please refer to the attached Calendar of Events

Bearing in mind that the MSSA has agreed to enter the national MWEB Protea Team into the World Championships for CS:GO which shall be hosted by E-Frag.net, together with hitbox, the MSSA shall need to submit all ten players teams within a short period of time.

Thus, the eSports Board of Control has decided to add CounterStrike: GO to the MWEB On-line Championships that will be played on 18 April 2015.

This will thus allow ALL other registered players from no matter where they are in the country a chance for qualifying for National Team Trials.

The National Team Trials, though, will be done as usual as a LAN event in the Province from where most of the teams will have qualified. The venue, and date, will be determined after play at the Gauteng Championships.

 However, in keeping with the MSSA's rules, all the championships for a full calendar year, that is from 19 April 2014 to 18 April 2015 count towards the 2015 Team Trials.

Thus players who were in teams that finished in the top three, or the top twenty percent (20%) at any of the 2014 Provincial and/or National Championships are able to compete in the 2015 National Team Trials.

Thus the Trials should prove to be an interesting mix of senior, student and school teams as they all battle it out for a place in the National Protea Team.

Ryan Boyes (Chairman of the eSports Board of Control and Manager of the Protea eSports Team) is confident that the on-line championship will give every interested competitive gamer the time that they need to ready themselves for qualification for Trials.

It should be noted that any team that is affiliated to a member club may participate in the MWEB CS: GO On-line Provincial Championships, whether they be a school team or even the most of competitive teams.