Leading the pack.

Sk Gaming ( including 'Loda' seated on the left) with MSSA's ACER Protea Team in 2008 at the Old Edwardian Society, Johannesburg.

Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA) has long been in the forefront of esports – not only in South Africa, but in the world.

In South Africa alone, MSSA took the lead by running its first esports competition (in WarCraft) in 1998. I remember it as if it was yesterday.

Some of the milestones achieved by MSSA are:

• Being the oldest national federation for esports in the world
• Is purely volunteer run
• Being a founder member of SASCOC
• Getting esports recognised as an accredited sport
• Held the first competitions for females in South Africa
• Consistently sends national teams overseas since 2005
• Started inter school championships and competitions in 2010
• Started the first online league in South Africa in 2005
• Hosts more LANs in more towns, cities, regions and provinces than any other organisation in each and every year
• The only organisation that brings out a Calendar of Events out for esports at least 6 months prior to the start of the year

Yet, even with these Herculean steps forward in promoting esports, none of the steps would have been successfully completed without the loyalty, dedication, and resourcefulness of so many of the volunteers and sponsors who have put their hands up over time to serve the growth and development of esports in South Africa.

However, it does not stop here. There is so much more to be done.

Not only are their always new barriers to break, but there is always the day-to-day running to be done.

MSSA today is better and stronger than it has ever been, and intends to remain at the forefront of esports.

Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA) never takes selection for a national team lightly

The BOO! 2017 Protea Esports Team. Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA) never takes selection for a national team lightly. Since being selected to officially represent South Africa for esports is the same as being represented by any other South African National Federation for any other sport, team selection must have great meaning to the esports players. The award of National Team status for esports also leads to comparisons from other sports as it is the highest level in esports, just as much as the Springboks are the highest level in rugby.

The selection process always has a dilemma as it is known that when choosing a team for international duty, concepts such as 'potential' does not have any meaning. Also, with South Africa being so far away from mainstream events, it is always difficult to relate how players who have performed well  at regional, provincial, and national championships will perform at a international level.

With MSSA there is no automatic selection to the team.

Every player standing for selection has to reprove him/herself.

International competition is tough. Much tougher than  anything that you will encounter in South Africa, and that is part of the problem.

In my opinion a number of events, with their large cash prizes, do nothing to develop strength or depth. Such events seem to only promote the same old favoured few with no real eye to developing real gaming strength for the future. Without a long-term view, South African gaming will never improve and South African teams shall, in my opinion, remain the whipping boys of the international community.

I am too reminded of when MSSA brought out SK Gaming's CS:GO and DotA 2 teams in 2008.

MSSA arranged, as a courtesy, a 'friendly' between SK Gaming's CounterStrike: GO team against a South African club team. The match  was so one-sided, it was horrible. Since it was BO3, SK Gaming rather than thrash the local team again, just gave them the third game.

In conclusion, for South Africa to  do well overseas, all teams must buy-in to a  long-term development programme and  not look to quick gratification. The average standard of play must be improved upon if players expect to improve the highest level of play.

While there are the exceptional cases of individuals who may achieve greatness inn spite  of their surroundings, generally speaking, successful athletes are produced in successful environments which  have successful coaches, expert administrators, and efficient administration.

Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA) never takes selection for a national team lightly

MSSA's 2017 Protea Esports Team - at the forefront of long-term development.

Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA) never takes selection for a national team lightly.

Since being selected to officially represent South Africa for esports is the same as being represented by any other South African National Federation for any other sport, team selection must have great meaning to the esports players. The award of National Team status for esports also leads to comparisons from other sports as it is the highest level in esports, just as much as the Springboks are the highest level in rugby. 

The selection process always has a dilemma as it is known that when choosing a team for international duty, concepts such as 'potential' does not have any meaning. Also, with South Africa being so far away from mainstream events, it is always difficult to relate how players who have performed well  at regional, provincial, and national championships will perform at a international level.

That is why, with MSSA there is no automatic selection to the team. 

Every player standing for selection has to reprove him/herself. 

International competition is tough. Much tougher than  anything that you will encounter in South Africa, and that is part of the problem.

In my opinion a number of events, with their large cash prizes, do nothing to develop strength or depth.

Such events seem to only promote the same old favoured few with no real eye to developing real gaming strength for the future. Without a long-term view, South African gaming will never improve and South African teams shall, in my opinion, remain the whipping boys of the international community.

I am too reminded of when MSSA brought out SK Gaming's CS:GO and DotA 2 teams in 2008 to participate in the ACER African Continental Championships.

MSSA arranged, as a courtesy, a 'friendly' between SK Gaming's Counter-Strike: GO team against a South African club team. The match  was so one-sided, it was horrible. Since it was BO3, SK Gaming rather than thrash the local team again, just gave them the third game.

Such act lead to the local team claiming how they held off SK Gaming instead of taking a long hard look at themselves. People always tend to believe their own propaganda.

But I ramble.

In conclusion, for South Africa to  do well overseas, all teams must buy-in to a  long-term development programme and  not look to quick gratification. The average standard of play must be improved upon if players expect to improve the highest level of play.

While there are the exceptional cases of individuals who may achieve greatness inn spite  of their surroundings, generally speaking, successful athletes are produced in successful environments which  have successful coaches, expert administrators, and efficient administration.

Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA) never takes selection for a national team lightly.

I have written much on players receiving Protea Colours over the years.

Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA) never takes selection for a national team lightly.

Since being selected to officially represent South Africa for esports is the same as being represented by any other South African National Federation for any other sport, team selection must have great meaning to the esports players. The award of National Team status for esports also leads to comparisons from other sports as it is the highest level in esports, just as much as the Springboks are the highest level in rugby.

The selection process always has a dilemma as it is known that when choosing a team for international duty, concepts such as 'potential' does not have any meaning. Also, with South Africa being so far away from mainstream events, it is always difficult to relate how players who have performed well  at regional, provincial, and national championships will perform at a international level.

One only has  to remember the 2017 WESG earlier this year where South Africa's self-proclaimed 'best' team was slaughtered in both CS: GO and DotA 2.

That is why, with MSSA there is no automatic selection to the team.

Every player standing for selection has to reprove him/herself.

International competition is tough. Much tougher than  anything that you will encounter in South Africa, and that is part of the problem.

In my opinion a number of events, with their large cash prizes, do nothing to develop strength or depth. Such events seem to only promote the same old favoured few with no real eye to developing real gaming strength for the future. Without a long-term view, South African gaming will never improve and South African teams shall, in my opinion, remain the whipping boys of the international community.

I am too reminded of when MSSA brought out SK Gaming's CS:GO and DotA 2 teams in 2008.

MSSA arranged, as a courtesy, a 'friendly' between SK Gaming's CounterStrike: GO team against a South African club team. The match  was so one-sided, it was horrible. Since it was BO3, SK Gaming rather than thrash the local team again, just gave them the third game.

Such act lead to the local team claiming how they held off SK Gaming instead of taking a long hard look at themselves. People always tend to believe their own propaganda.

But I ramble.

In conclusion, for South Africa to  do well overseas, all teams must buy-in to a  long-term development programme and  not look to quick gratification. The average standard of play must be improved upon if players expect to improve the highest level of play.

While there are the exceptional cases of individuals who may achieve greatness in spite  of their surroundings, generally speaking, successful athletes are produced in successful environments which  have successful coaches, expert administrators, and efficient administration.

A tribute to Sylvia Webster

Sylvia Webster held high by fellow team mates (from the left) Butinyana Mothibedi, Don Malambe, Samuel Pule, Petrus Mqoshekile, and Gregory Kupczyk.

Sylvia Webster was one of the great unsung heroes of Mind Sports South Africa.

Few knew that Sylvia, was part of the first Morabaraba team to ever officially represent South Africa. Such team attended TAFISA's 2nd World Sport for All Festival in Bangkok, Thailand. The team was one of the most successful teams ever having won gold.

The team also turned heads and attracted huge amounts  of supporters when the team demonstrated the game and handed out free samples of the game. Such was the interest shown, that extra police had  to be deployed to control the crowds.

Yet Sylvia was not deterred.

Even though Sylvia was diminutive in stature, Sylvia had the heart of a lioness.

Little, if anything scared her.

Even though Sylvia was a formidable Morabaraba player (which Sylvia credited to her degree in Mathematics), Sylvia was drawn into helping administrate MSSA itself.

However, Sylvia never sought elected position. Sylvia was ever happy to work behind the scenes ensuring that events went off smoothly.

Without Sylvia's help and expertise, MSSA would never have been able to have hosted 5 out of the 6 world championships hosted by MSSA. Such championships in which Sylvia was involved were those held in 1997, 1999, 2002, 2007, and 2012.

Sylvia's contribution to the Checkers test match between Hugh Devlin (of Ireland) and Lubabalo Kondlo (of South Africa) in May 2001 was truly phenomenal. Little, if anything, was too much trouble.

Sylvia too threw her heart-and-soul into SK Gaming's visit in 2008. Nothing was too good for 'her' Swedes and she treated them royally.

Through her efforts, Sylvia built up a world-wide network of friends, all of whom she loved dearly.

Sylvia tackled all her problems head-on in her quiet unassuming manner. She kept all her successes and hardships private. All except for her ultimate joy in life, her son, his wife and their son. David, Kelly, and Cooper were her life. Of them, Sylvia would  speak often and with much love.

With Sylvia's passing the world has become colder place, but her spirit will remain as bright and cheerful as ever, and Sylvia, although having gone too soon, will remain forever young.

There will be a memorial service for Sylvia Webster in the Round Table Room, Old Edwardian Society, 11 Ninth Ave., Lower Houghton on Saturday, 28 January 2017 at 14H00. Those wishing to  attend must please RSVP to the Club Administrator, Celia Niederhoffer on 011 728 7335.

Sylvia Webster at IWF's 1999 World Championships Award Dinner in The Castle, Cape Town.

2012 & 2013 eSports Board of Control Chairman

bvd_russian in pensive mood

Mind Sports South Africa is without doubt the oldest member of the IeSF having been founded on 14 December 1985 as a non-profit Association.

As an Association, the MSSA is governed by a committee that is elected at its General Meetings. In order to create stability in the Association, elections for the posts on the Management Board are staggered so that the entire Management Board does not change at the same time which would result in a loss of knowledge and experience.

Obviously, the Chairman of the eSports Board of Control has become more and more important with the massive growth in eSports in South Africa. In the past the position of Chairman of the eSports Board of Control was often held by registered players who had a keen interest in eSports, but had not really participated themselves in competitive leagues.

2012 saw a new era being ushered in with David Webster being unanimously elected in to the position of Chairman of the eSports Board of Control.

David had received Protea Colours from Mind Sports South Africa (1997 to 2001) as well as from Shooting South Africa for the game of Paintball (2010 and 2011). However, it is his work in eSports that is relevant to his credentials. David Webster - known as bvd_russian - was one of the founding members (along with Garth Jones and Kevin Murphy) of the second oldest CounterStrike clans that we have in South Africa – Bravado Gaming (Bvd Gaming).

Bravado Gaming has done much to improve the standard of competitive gaming in South Africa, and is the only South African team to have played against the Swedish team SK Gaming in CounterStrike 1.6 when MSSA brought out SK Gaming out to South Africa for the 2008 ACER African Continental Championships.

In taking up his position on the eSports Board of Control, David brought with him years of experience of competitive play as well as a youthful enthusiasm that generated confidence and participation.

David was a true asset to MSSA and to all gaming in South Africa.

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.

One can only wonder...

'Loda' in South Africa in 2008

Every December and January,  South Africa television stations are awash with cricket.

Don't get me wrong, I find cricket to be nice enough. I mean, even some of my best friends have,  and do, play  cricket.

Why, I have even introduced SK Gaming to  the game.

Yes, SK Gaming played the Protea eSports Team in cricket inn 2008, and even though bvd_Cent was there to help the Protea eSports Team, the Swedes still chalked up an impressive victory....

But I  digress!

The point  is, while watching the  seemingly endless hours of coverage, my mind wandered.

Would not ANY other sport be as popular, or perhaps even more so if they received the same amount of coverage as cricket?

The answer is undeniably, yes for many sports.

Several years ago SASCOC stated that  it was going  to start its own TV channel. I do not think that there was a voice in opposition to that noble statement.

Unfortunately it was not to be. The idea seem to die on the board-room table, and nothing more about it was ever said again.

Certainly I believe that there is room for a dedicated sports channel. There is more than enough content, and, with over 100 sporting codes, the channel will have a huge following.

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.
iions,
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.

How does SA get professional gamers?

2014 MWEB Protea eSports Team for DotA 2

The short answer is - to pay them!

However, in order to pay gamers to play, there is a lot of 'back-end' work tat has to be done.

For South Africa to have professional gamers, the competitions have to become sustainable by having:

Paying spectators, 

Sponsorships that run from year to year,

A well structured system, 

Gamers that abide by the structure, 

A common vision shared by the majority of those involved.

Mind Sports South africa has over the years developed properly structured systems which start at school level and end at the selection of National teams which then compete on an international level. Through MSSA the following number of eSports players have played against international teams:

Year	Number of gamers
2005	5
2007	8
2008	50*
2009	2
2010	4
2011	4
2012	9
2013	25
2014	13

'Loda' and other members of SK Gaming at the Old edwardian Society in Johannesburg

* In 2008 SK Gaming was brought out to South Africa by MSSA. SK Gaming not only participated in official test matches on behalf of Sweden but also participated in the 2008 African Continental Championships which gave a total of ten teams the opportunity to play against them.

MSSA's dedication in getting teams to play on an international level is unsurpassed by any other organisation in South Africa.

It should however be noted that eNergy eSports, and Bravado both sent a team overseas in 2013, while eNergy sent one overseas in 2014, and Bravado went overseas in 2015 on their own account.

However, the press received by the National eSports Team eclipses the press received by any other. The MWEB Protea eSports Team is well known to every gamer, and in many households in South Africa. Such team is often interviewed by the foreign press. The team is too much loved overseas by its peers and by the shoutcasters alike!

The Protea Badge does wonders for the image and accreditation of the team.

It is only through a concerted effort with all working with MSSA that South Africa will be able to produce true professional gamers.

Notice for National Team Trials

The MSSA has produced national teams for eSports every year since 2005.

Who can ever forget Logan Brooke-Smith winning at the 2005 World Cyber Games, WCG,  in mobile games in 2005, or SK Gaming tour of South Africa in 2008 in both DotA and CS:1.6?

The loyal sponsorship by MWEB has also ensured that the MSSA could send teams to Bucharest (2013), Baku (2014), and to the IeSF's 7th World Championships in 2015.

However, there is a lot of work that goes into selecting a national team, as well as a great deal of compliance that needs to be met by the gamers, and by the federation.

Thus part of the compliance demands that members of the national eSports team must all be South African citizens, and must all meet the South African government's requirements for travel.

All gamers that qualify for National Team Trials must therefore please remember that they must have a valid passport at the date of the National Team Trials.

Gamers who have not yet reached the age of majority (that is, who are under the age of 18) also need to have their unabridged birth certificate by the time of National Team Trials.

Gamers who do not have such documentation at the date of the National Team trials, will not be considered for selection.

Gamers are therefore strongly advised to apply for such documentation as soon as they qualify for Trials!

CS:GO get to go!

bvd_russian and bvd_dimi preparing to play against SK Gaming at the 2008 African Continental Championships

Without doubt South African gamers are having better than ever before. This is largely due to the incredible partnership that exists between MWEB and the MSSA.

The MWEB sponsorship of the MSSA has freed up the MSSA to concentrate on delivery both in South Africa and on an international stage and to take advantage of the many opportunities that are being offered.

Under the MWEB sponsorship, the national Protea eSports team that has attended the IeSF World Championships has increased in size from only being four members in 2012 to being 10 members in 2014. The team is expected to grow to fourteen members in 2015.

Of course a lot of this has to do with the continued, and steadfast growth, of international gaming competitions which concentrate on national teams.

It is now well known that the Asian Olympic Committee has included eSports into its line-up, and it is a lessor known fact that TAFISA has included eSports into the Sport for All Games to be held in Jakarta in 2016.

This greater activity of national teams battling it out for national and international honours and prestige has meant that there are more and more championships that cater for official representative teams.

Practically all major competitive titles are benefiting from this surge in interest.

The CounterStrike: GO title is benefiting more than most.

The MSSA has already committed itself to participate in CSGO in the 7^th IeSF World Championships to be held in Lodz.

However, the MSSA is also committed to participating in the World Championships for CS:GO being hosted by E-Frag.net, together with hitbox.

U$100,000+ will be given out to the finest players of the world, each of them representing not themselves, but principally their mother country. Amongst other things, crowdfunding will be available and every contribution will be rewarded with official merchandise.

Apart from all the matches being broadcasted by E-FragTV live fwith guests from the CS:GO scene and community, broadcasts in foreign languages will be available as well on hitbox.

“As a successor of ESEC, we are bringing you The World Championships – a new tournament based on nations, that will have a huge impact on the Counter-Strike:Global Offensive scene worldwide. This is something the CSGO Community needs. It is going to be really exciting to watch some not so well known players and teams compete against the best players in the world for glory and a big prize.”
Petar Marković, CCO E-Frag.net

“Last years ESEC and the upcoming World Championships bring something unique to the CS:GO scene. A true nations based tournament, uniting some of the best players from around the globe. Extraordinary match-ups will be a regular occurrence, with line-ups you previously only were able to see in fantasy drafts. It goes without saying that we are enormously excited to see all this action live and exclusive on hitbox.”
Daniel Leberl, CCO hitbox

There will be qualification rounds for each continent – Europe, Asia, North America, South America, Africa, Oceania which will be held throughout the year . The sixteen very best nations will then be invited to attend The 2015 World Championship.

As is tradition, the players and managers of the 16 LAN qualified countries will be competing in Belgrade, this year in Sava Centar, during the 8th – 11th October, 2015. To eliminate further issues, all of the qualified nations‘ travel and accommodation costs will be covered by our fund. With the announcement, we are also calling out to people who are experienced in the field of eSports. We believe that every team shall have a proper manager and supervisor, who will, in cooperation with us, ensure the welfare of the team during the whole tournament.

The MSSA sees this championship as a vital step to further developing South Africa as a competitive eSports nation.

Of course, gamers need to follow the the usual path to selection, that is, the gamer must be a Registered Player and needs to qualify for Trials through an official MSSA championship.

Broken promises!

I have just seen on the DGL website that Danil “Dendi” Ishutin is no longer coming out to rAge.


I was amazed to see how quite everybody is on the matter.


No outrage, no despair – nothing!


Makes me wonder if anybody out there even reads the Do Gaming page any more.


But more importantly, it shows how unfairly a very small group of gamers treat the MSSA.


Since 2005, as the MSSA claims, they have sent a team every year overseas except for 2008 when the MSSA brought the mighty SK Gaming DotA and CounterStrike teams to South Africa. See http://www.sk-gaming.com/video/58117-Loda_vs_the_giraffe for Loda's romantic adventure with a giraffe.

The 'community' was up in arms over the MSSA's decision as many gamers (very short-sightedly) felt that the money should be spent on prize money rather than bringing the SK heavy-weights to South Africa.


I feel the MSSA did the right thing.


Bearing in mind that the MSSA is a private association that is sponsored by companies, and does not generate profits of its own from trading, you can only realise how difficult it must be for the MSSA.


Yet, the MSSA has never once reneged on a promise to either send a team overseas, or to bring a team here.


Yet still, a very small cadre of discontents complain.


But what the Dendi affair does tell me is that it is not so easy to bring players here or to send them over there.


The fact that the MSSA consistently does it on a shoe-string budget tells me that the MSSA has the will, the drive and the commitment.



(The photo of SK comes off the MSSA's facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.147780669007.140362.146018324007&type=3 )