Request for nominations for MSSA's 2017 Management Board Awards

Matthew Smith - MSSA's 2016 Computer Gamer of the Year.

Back in 2009, Mind Sport South Africa (MSSA) started its Management Board Awards.

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.

Some, like Simphiwe Maphumulo and Morizane Boyes , became even more involved.

Both Simphiwe and Morizane moved from being great gamers to take up active roles in the administration of MSSA as President of the MSSA.

However, the time has once again arrived for members to make their nominations for MSSA's Management Board Awards.

The categories are:

• Mind Sports Person of the Year 
• Board Gamer of the Year 
• Computer Gamer of the Year 
• Wargamer of the Year 
• Volunteer of the Year 
• Writer of the Year 
• Sponsor of the Year

If you wish to make a nomination, please submit such nomination in writing together with full motivation for such to mindsportssa@iafrica.com before 15 October 2017.

Such nomination must contain a detailed motivation for the Management Board to consider.

The period under review for nominations is 1 October 2016 to 30 September 2017.

Nominations must be sent to mindsportssa@gmail.com

The award is presented at MSSA's Annual General Meeting.

Past winners are:

Year	Mind Sports Person of the Year	Board Gamer of the Year	Computer Gamer of the Year	Wargamer of the Year	Volunteer of the Year	Writer of the Year	Sponsor of the Year
2016	Jason Batzofin	Lucille Brown	Matthew Smith	Garth Schoeman	Colin Webster	Tamzyn Pamplin (MyComLink)	SterKinekor
2015	Elishia Retief	Lubabalo Kondlo	Kyle Turnbull	Jason Batzofin	Morizane Boyes	Andrew Rose (MyComLink)	MWEB
2014	Morizan Boyes	Lubabalo Kondlo	Barry West	Elishia Retief	Louis Brown	Kyle Wolmarans (MWEB Gamezone)	MWEB
2013	Simphiwe Maphumulo	Simphiwe Maphumulo	Lyrene Kuhn	Colin Webster	Dorian Love	Han Ciliiers (MWEB Gamezone)	MWEB
2012	Robert Botha	Simphiwe Maphumulo	Gabriela Isaacs	Eugene Burger	Louis Brown	Han Cilliers (MWEB Gamezone)	GIGABYTE
2011	Jaco Engelbrecht	Lubabalo Kondlo	Robert Botha	David Vannucci	Ryan van den Bergh	Alexandra Kayle (ITWEB)	ASUS
2010	Frans Brewis	Simphiwe Maphumulo	Nialle Momsen	Gregory Laycock	Ryan van den Bergh	Jaco Diedericks	Incredible Connection
2009	Colin Webster	Mothusi Moabi	Stephen White	Edward van Trotsenburg	Ryan van den Bergh	Muhammed Nagdee (Verge)	Incredible Connection

Nageng Primary School produces stars!

Boitumelo Mako receiving her awards from MSSA representative Donald Mullany

The 2015 MWEB City of Johannesburg Regional Championships which were held at the Old Edwardian Society in Lower Houghton, in Johannesburg on the 17th of October 2015 saw exciting developments in the game of Morabaraba.

sure the big names  were present, but on a more rewarding note, so were a bevy of younger players from Nageng Primary School.

The older players immediately discounted the young players from Vosloorus, and boy, were they wrong to do so.

The youngsters immediately demonstrated their skill with Boitumelo immediately taking control of the women's section.

Such was her skill that Boitumelo dominated the women's section from te start and finally finished up in first place earning herself Regional Colours, as well as a place in the 2016 National Team Trials at which the 2016 Protea Team shall be selected.

Young Sicelo Mabatha immediately challenged the heavy weights in the championship, namely Simphiwe Maphumulo (1 x Junior World champion, and 2 x Senior World Champion) and Johannes Makau (Mpumulanga Provincial Champion). His challenge, although unsuccessful left him in third place overall which earned him the respect and admiration of both Simphiwe and Johannes.

A great deal is expected from these two stars in the future.

Sicelo Mbatha receiving his medal from MSSA representative Donald Mullany

Simphiwe enters the 2015 MWEB Regional Championships

Simphiwe Maphumulo in a thoughtful mood1

Excitement abounds for the 2015 MWEB City of Johannesburg Regional Championships for the game of morabaraba to be held on 17 October 2015.

The reason for the excitement is due to none other than one time junior world champion (2004) and two time Senior World champion, Simphiwe Maphumulo, has entered the championship.

This has upped the stakes considerably.

The City of Johannesburg Regional Championships has now taken on the air of a top-of-the-line international championship.

Simphiwe's standard of play is without compare, and only the bravest of the brave will willingly take him on.

Readers are reminded that the winner of a MSSA Regional Championship automatically is invited to the 2016 National Team Trials at which the 2016 Protea Team shall be selected to officially represent South Africa.

It is going to be a good day of gaming at the Old Edwardian Society on 17 October 2015.

I can hardly wait!

MSSA's Management Board Awards

Back in 2009, Mind Sport South Africa (MSSA) started its Management Board Awards.

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, MSSA shall always fondly remember the winners and the incredible contribution that they made towards gaming.

Some, like Simphiwe Maphumulo , became even more involved.

Simphiwe moved from being one of MSSA's best gamers to and active role in the administration of MSSA as President of the MSSA.

However, the time has once again arrived for members to make their nominations for MSSA's Management Board Awards.

The categories are:

• Mind Sports Person of the Year 
• Board Gamer of the Year 
• Computer Gamer of the Year 
• Wargamer of the Year 
• Volunteer of the Year 
• Writer of the Year 
• Sponsor of the Year

if you wish to make a nomination, please submit such nomination in writing together with full motivation for such to mindsportssa@iafrica.com

Process for the creation of an MSSA affiliated School Club

Simphiwe Maphumulo - MSSA President

1. Since school clubs are strictly controlled legal entities, school clubs do not have to have a constitution. Instead the clubs only require permission from the Principal and musty also have an Educator-in-Charge. The MSSA shall route all correspondence through the Educator-in-Charge. 

2. Since school club's are part of the school, all monies must be handled by the school.

3. Fill in the following paperwork:

• The Advice form – which also states the fees
• Registration Forms for the Educator-in-Charge.

4. Deposit the annual affiliation fees for the club and the Educator-in-Charge into MSSA’s bank account

6. Send MSSA the following information (via fax or e-mail):

• Proof of payment of all fees
• The completed Advice Form
• All completed registration forms

7. Please confirm with an MSSA official that the documentation was received and that all is in order

8. Await acknowledgement of application from MSSA, after which the club is registered

9. Determine if any of your club’s members wish to serve as MSSA officials on any of the MSSA committees. If so, please contact MSSA to determine which positions are available and to acquire the appropriate forms.

Simphiwe Maphumulo elected as MSSA president!

Incredibly only after 19 years of democracy in South Africa, has the MSSA elected in its first black president at its Annual general Meeting held on Sunday, 8 December 2013.

The funny thing is that there are bloggers out there that consider the election of Simphiwe Maphumulo as president to be less than democratic..... One can only laugh!

But who is Simphiwe, and what is his pedigree?

Simphiwe, who comes from Pietermaritzburg, has been a continuously registered player since 2001. Not only that, but Simphiwe has won many Provincial and National Championships in the game of Morabaraba.

But Simphiwe is not just a local champion. According to the MSSA's facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/mindsportssa), Simphiwe has also won the following international championships:

• 2003 Junior World Championships
• 2003 Senior World Championships
• 2012 Senior World Championships
• 2013 Senior World Championships

Simphiwe was too awarded the S A Sports Awards Indigenous Sports Star of the Year Award, and reputedly walked away with a substantial cheque. The award was given by the Hon. Fikile Mbabula (Minister of Sport and Recreation). (http://www.sasportsawards.com/index.php/nominees)

It also seems as though SASCOC is happy with the choice that the MSSA's member clubs have made. In a recent posting made on the MSSA facebook page, it is reported that SASCOC president, Mr Gideon Sam stated:

"Please pass on to Simphiwe my personal congratulations on his election to be the president of MSSA. I look forward to a strong and lengthy relationship with him."

SASCOC is of course THE governing body for sport in South Africa. It is the body that selects teams for the Olympic Games, Paralympic Games, Commonwealth Games, African Games and others.

Thus, it seems as though the MSSA will have a great 2014!

Transformation in South African gaming!

While watching SABC TV2 yesterday morning (16 October 2013(, the Minister of Sport and Recreation announced the finalists of the South African Sport Awards.

Mind Sports South Africa managed to get Simphiwe Maphumulo nominated for the Indigenous Sports Star of the Year Award. This means as a finalist, Simphiwe automatically picks up a check of R15,000.00 and if he wins the category at the Awards dinner, Simphiwe will get a check of R130,000.00.

This is why eSports is part of the sports structure – so that the gamer can benefit.

The Minister also made it clear that quota's will be enforced in sport.

It is known that the MSSA does as much as possible to ensure that there is representation of all South Africans in its teams.

However, what of privately owned events. The TELKOM DGL still seems to be 'milky white'. All you have to do is look at the photographs, and you will see very few people of colour.

According to the last census, whites only make up 8% of the population, but if you went to rAge, you would think that you were still living in a pre-1994 South Africa.

DSGL, and all other competitions, should get in line with the governments' priorities, otherwise it could be seen that gaming, and the gamers themselves, are reactionary and do not identify with the New South Africa at all.

My suggestion is that DGL should not accept a team in their league if at least 2 of the team members are not blacks.

Think about it!