Does Transformation have a place in esports?

There a a few gamers that have questioned whether transformation has a place in esports. The arguments largely revolve around esports being a 'new' sport that has only really developed in the post 1994 South Africa.

Such arguments do not take into account the legacy left by the Apartheid state which has an effect on current, and possibly even, future generations.

It is difficult for people who were born into advantaged and entitled families to truly understand the damage that Apartheid did.

Apartheid was in itself the ultimate expression of entitlement.

Transformation refers to each and every component element of South African society, including sport and all its sub structures.

According to the Province of KwaZulu-Natal Department of Sport and Recreation, "There are three categories of people in the South African society that have to be recognised, acknowledged and brought on board in the transformation process: 

• Those with both feet positioned in the past and who view current processes to change and adapt South African society as intrusive, unproductive and discriminatory in nature.
  
• Those who have one foot in the past and another hesitantly positioned in the future. They are generally uncertain, unsure, apprehensive and sometimes perplexed about the shape of the country’s longer term future.
  
• Those who have both feet firmly planted in the future some of whom who are actively engaged in dealing with the problems challenging South African society. A momentous task considering some of the structural deficiencies, relatively inexperienced and untested human resource base and sometimes deficient support structures in place."

It is true that transformation in every sporting code is a subject that has been debated at length ever since South Africa became a democracy in 1994. 

Change has to take place from the ground up for there to be any meaningful changes at the top, and that means that it has to start at school level. 

Since 1994 efforts to ‘transform’ in various sports has been largely unsuccessful. In its attempts to ‘transform’ and re-invent itself the concept of ‘transformation’ and the motivations for and against the need thereof have been oversimplified, often emotional, not clear and sometimes misunderstood.

What is clear though, is that transformation is needed in order to unlock the full potential in South African gaming. 

Federations like Mind Sports South Africa have taken a very different approach. The MSSA is active in enabling the formation of clubs (especially at school level) that will cater for the majority of South Africa's population, and have active policies to promote a more sustainable form of development. The MSSA too has come out strongly against the imposition of quotas in the belief that the attempt to force quotas is actually illegal.

After all, transformation in sport is dependent on transformation in the economy.

It is not possible to get volunteers where people do not have enough money to feed themselves. Nor is it possible to get people to play games when they lack the basic infrastructure, and also lack the equipment that they need to play.

Unfortunately, most South Africans are born into poverty. 

With high figures of unemployment, transformation requires an active mentor system by ALL.

Every clan and club should be concerned with transformation. Of course it can all be funded at club level by the National Lottery.

The biggest problem is, quite frankly, that if we do not see it as all of our duty, it may not be long before the rules change, and a form of transformation is thrust upon the gaming community.

More on transformation!

On Wednesday, 27 May 2015, the Minister of Sports and Recreation announced that a number of national
federations had further committed themselves to transformation.

My last article on transformation created so much ire among gamers that I received over 500 responses. Unfortunately few were able to be posted due to legal constraints.

However what is important is that transformation affects ALL sports and ALL of South Africa.

There were some rather weird reasons given by gamers why transformation should not apply to cyber-sports. One of the reasons was that since computer gaming is a post apartheid activity, transformation should not apply. Another gamer stated that it is not the responsibility of the clans to transform, but for organizations to create new clans among disadvantaged peoples.

On re-reading these comments, I am struck by the naievity of the gamers concerned.

Transformation exists in every aspect of South African life, and no matter if people oppose it, it will be enforced.

Just how it is to be enforced rests with the 'Powers that are'.

Many sporting bodies have gone for the easy route of applying draconian quota systems and by writing transformation into their rules and regulations. Such moves have created a great deal of unhappiness among the sportsmen/sportswomen concerned as some have felt that they have been denied the opportunity to compete at the very highest of levels and feel that they have been denied selection to national teams.

Some  national federations have just buried their heads in the sand and have hoped that the problem would go away. However, that is not going to happen.....

Federations like Mind Sports South Africa have taken a very different approach. The MSSA is active in creating clubs that will cater for the majority of South Africa's population, and have active policies to promote a more sustainable form of development. The MSSA too has come out strongly against the imposition of quotas in the belief that the attempt to force quotas is actually illegal.

After all, development in sport is dependent on transformation in the economy.

It is not possible to get volunteers where people do not have enough money to feed themselves. Nor is it possible to get people to play games when they lack the basic infrastructure, and also lack the equipment that they need to play.

Unfortunately, most South Africans are born into poverty. While the government likes to claim that there is unemployment of 23%, I think that the figure is closer to 80% based on simple maths, being that there are 4 million taxpayers and that there are 25 million South Africans over the age of 18. Thus 4/25*100 = 16% employment.

With such high figures of unemployment, transformation requires an active mentor system by ALL.

Every clan and club should be concerned with transformation. Of course it can all be funded at club level by the National Lottery.

The biggest problem is, quite frankly, that if we do not see it as all of our duties, it may not be long before the rules change, and a form of transformation is thrust upon the gaming community.

Sport and the SA elections!

Democratic Alliance (DA) leader Helen Zille revealed a surprise in Ricardo McKenzie, Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula's private secretary, as a candidate.

Of course the Minister of Sport and Recreation (Fikile Mbabula) publicly attacked him on television by labelling him all sort of names and thus trying to cast doubt onto his abilities.

Of course, Fikile Mbabula is also the Minister, who so harshly and publicly, criticised the South African national football team (Bafana Bafana).

It is well known in sporting circles that Ricardo McKenzie is indeed a more than efficient administrator.

Certainly, Ricardo was instrumental, from what I am lead to believe, in sorting out the difficulties that existed between Mind Sports South Africa and the Department of Sport and Recreation.

It thus seems then, that the Minister's objections are solely based on the fact that Ricardo McKenzie dared to affiliate himself to a political party other than the ANC.

Eish! How dare McKenzie do such a thing!

I wonder if the Minister has heard of the concept of Freedom of Association?

South Africa loses to Denmark and Israel - but do it in style!

From the MSSA:

"The Tri-Nations  held between Denmark, Israel and South Africa was held at MWEB's MCAVE on Saturday, 12 October 2013 from 18H00.

Philisande Macwili was there to represent the Western Cape Department of Sports and Recreation, and to award the National Federation Colours to the South African team.

The first match of the evening was South Africa against Israel. The young South African team was nervous, but they handled the game like troopers. It became very noticeable that the South African team were indeed very nervous on their first international match, and a number of mistakes were made that allowed the Israeli's to take full advantage and punish the South African team at every turn.

However, the South African team, loosened up in the dying moments of the games, and started to claw their way back into the game, but it was too late, and the Israeli's finished the game as the victors.

After the break, the South Africans had to face the juggernaut that is Denmark.

However, the young captain, Conradie van Heerden had re-inspired his team, and the South African team that took to the field of battle seemed to be a totally different team altogether.

Although the Danish team is without doubt one of the favourites in international League of Legends competition, the South African team came out fighting.

The audience at MWEB's MCAVE was ecstatic with the very different game play, and South Africa fought long and hard against Denmark, making the marauding Danes pay dearly for every victory during the game.

However, strength and experience won the day, and the Danes chalked up yet another victory as South Africa finally had to concede to the European team. It was a hard game, but the South Africans had played well above their usual standard.

Team member Kyle Rhoodie said to Philisande Macwili, "It was a hard game, harder than any game I have ever played before. I am glad that I did it as I have learned so much. It is one thing to watch the top players in the world, and it is another thing to play them. They were everywhere in the game, but we will be ready for them the next time we play".

Conradie van Heerden too stated, "It was an honour to play for South Africa, the help from MWEB is also invaluable in allowing the team to improve. Now that we know what we are up against, we know where our faults lie, and we know on what we have to work. The team played hard and every member gave of their best., but we can do better, and we will!"

After the match against Denmark, the team joined the audience to watch Denmark against Israel.

Denmark flew into action and immediately began inflicting damage. There was no doubt as to who was going to win. The strength and experience of the Danes also proved too much for the Israelis.

Thus the Danes took the Tri-Nations, 

with Israel finishing in second place, and South Africa finishing in third place.

After the match the Israeli team captain, Tal Winter said, "The TriNations were really enjoyable event and the games against both SA and Denmark were challenging and good. The event was helpful to us, as it showed us how much we have to work and improve until the IeSF World Championship, and we are looking forward to see SA and Denmark again in Romania." This is also the first time that South Africa will compete in an officially sanctioned competition for League of Legends. The Tri-Nations is thus, without doubt, a fore-runner of things to come

It is thus clear that at the MWEB MCAVE, new friends were made, competition was had, and more importantly, all the teams had fought and strived for honour, .

The South African team that was awarded National Federation Colours is as follows:

Name of Player	Club	Residence
Conradie van Heerden (captain)	ROCCAT	Durbanville
Myburg Brink	ROCCAT	Strand
Willem Strȍfeldt	2up Gamers	Bellville
Kyle Rhoodie	2up Gamers	Brackenfell
Marco Botha	2up Gamers	Bellville

Issued by:

-- 
Colin Webster
President
Mind Sports South Africa
P O Box 19275
FISHER'S HILL
1408
Tel: 011 828 4994
Fax: 086 672 1911
Cell: 073 593 9451
e-mail: mindsportssa@iafrica.com
URL: http://www.mindsportsa.co.za
Twitter: @mindsportssa
Skype: colin.webster4

Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA) is an affiliate of the South African Confederation of Sport and Olympic Committee.

The MSSA is responsible for the good governance and promotion of Board games (such as Backgammon, Diplomacy, Checkers, Draughts, Morabaraba, etc), eSports (whether they are played on ?cell phones, Sony® PSP?s, personal computers or similar), and Historical figure games (also known as wargames). "

Photograph taken from: https://www.facebook.com/mindsportssa