Full list of Esports Protea Colours.

Maryke Kennard receiving her Protea Colours (2015) from National Team Manager, Ryan Boyes.

With Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA) currently determining its Protea Esports Teams to participate in IeSF's 9th World Championships - Busan, and various online test matches, I feel it is important to publish the full list of Registered Players who have earned Protea Colours for esports since MSSA started awarding such in 2005.

The list is quite exhaustive and   reflects the names of the players who have represented South Africa with pride and distinction.

However, it should be noted that this is only a list of those who received Protea Colours. There are other teams that received National Federation Colours, but due to the full process not being complied with, Protea Colours could not be awarded to such teams.

A full list of all those who have received National Federation Colours shall be produced in the near future.

Thus the full list of Registered Players (both past and present) who have received Protea Colours for esports for officially representing South Africa is as follows:

Date	Name of player	Period	Club/Team
2016	Jason Batzofin	Manager	St John’s College
	Joline Bico	FIFA ‘16	HTS Witbank
	Lyle Jeacocks	CounterStrike: GO	Anteria
	Jessie Joubert (Team Captain)	CounterStrike: GO	Rondebosch Boys
	Dillon Justus	CounterStrike: GO	DF Malan
	Maryke Kennard	League of Legends	Tuks University
	Francois Mouton	HearthStone	Tuks University
	Taylor Rose	League of Legends	Knights Mind Sports
	Matthew Smith (Team captain)	League of Legends	Knights Mind Sports
	Leandré Sparks	CounterStrike: GO	Anteria
	Kyle Turnbull (Team Captain)	FIFA ‘16	HTS Witbank
	Johan Uys	League of Legends	Tuks University
	Johan van Breda	League of Legends	Tuks University
	Simon Zandstra	CounterStrike: GO	Rondebosch Boys
	Bonge Zwane	FIFA ‘16	HTS Witbank
2015	Anderson, Nathan	StarCraft II	Knights Mind Sports
	Batzofin, Jason	CounterStrike: GO	St John's College
	Boucher, Michael	CounterStrike: GO	BerZerK
	Boyes, Ryan	Manager	BNKR Gaming
	Brown, Thomas	CounterStrike: GO	All Stars
	Heymans, Johan (Team Captain)	CounterStrike: GO	BerZerK
	Kennard, Maryke (Team Captain)	League of Legends	Tuks Mindsports
	Krugel, Wilmar	CounterStrike: GO	BerZerK
	Meiring, Wynand	HearthStone Player	BerZerK Gaming
	Nortjé, Thylé	CounterStrike: GO	All Stars
	Smale, Duncan	CounterStrike: GO	St John's College
	Rose, Taylor	League of Legends	Knights Mind Sports
	Smith, Matthew	League of Legends	Knights Mind Sports
	Stringer, Vasudev	League of Legends	Tuks Mindsports
	Tilley, Cameron	League of Legends	Tuks Mindsports
	Uys, Johan	Coach	Tuks Mindsports
	van Wamelen, Bastion	CounterStrike: GO	St John's College
	Venter, Cornel	CounterStrike: GO	BerZerK
2014	Nathan Anderson	StarCraft II	Veneration
	Jason Bredberg	DotA 2	Knights Mind Sports
	Morizane Boyes	Tekken Tag Tournament II	BNKR Gaming
	Ryan Boyes	Manager	BNKR Gaming
	Dylan Henderson	DotA 2	Knights Mind Sports
	Saleem Manjoo	DotA 2	Knights Mind Sports
	Ion Todd (Team Captain)	DotA 2	Knights Mind Sports
	Timothy van Reenan Mostert	DotA 2	Knights Mind Sports
	Barry West	HearthStone	Tuks Mindsports
	Yolandi Williams	StarCraft II	Snaz Gaming
2013	Nathan Anderson	StarCraft II	Veneration
	Robert Botha	StarCraft II	PolarFluke
	Marco Botha	League of Legends	Knights Mind Sports
	Myburg Brink	League of Legends	Knights Mind Sports
	Anthony Hodgson (Team Captain)	DotA 2	Knights Mind Sports
	Lyrene Kühn (Team Captain)	Tekken Tag Tournament II	Knights Mind Sports
	Mohamed Wasim Lorgat	DotA 2	Energy eSports
	Dylan Probyn	DotA 2	Knights Mind Sports
	Justin Probyn	DotA 2	Knights Mind Sports
	Kyle Rhoodie	League of Legends	Knights Mind Sports
	Willem Strȍfeldt	League of Legends	Knights Mind Sports
	Conradie van Heerden	League of Legends	Knights Mind Sports
	Yolandi Williams	StarCraft II	Veneration
	Wesley Rose	DotA 2	Knights Mind Sports
2012	Robert Botha	StarCraft II	PolarFluke
	Gabriella Isaacs	StarCraft II	SAHETI
	Lyrene Kühn	Tekken Tag Tournament II	Knights Mind Sports
	Vittorio Puissa	Tekken Tag Tournament II	HS Dojo
2011	Robert Botha	StarCraft II	PolarFluke
	Olivia Burton	Texting	Knights Mind Sports Club
	Ginny Daly	Manager	Knights Mind Sports
	Jaco Engelbrecht	Cart Rider	Knights Mind Sports
	Wilbur Hough	Texting	Knights Mind Sports Club
	Ian Pillay	FIFA	University of Witwatersrand
	Jason van Belkum	StarCraft II	Knights Mind Sports
2010	Rolando de Alveiro	FIFA	Knights Mind Sports Club
	Magiel de Lange	WarCraft III	Knights Mind Sports Club
	Kevin Doran	Guitar Hero	Knights Mind Sports Club
	Abubakar Ebrahiem	FIFA	Knights Mind Sports Club
	Daniel Grundlingh	Call of Duty 4	KZN Gaming
	Michelle Marder	Manager - Guitar Hero	Knights Mind Sports Club
	Nialle Momsen	Call of Duty 4	KZN Gaming
	Peter Myburgh	Call of Duty 4	KZN Gaming
	Matthew Putter	WarCraft III	Fraglan
	Jo-Ash Rajcoomer	Call of Duty 4	KZN Gaming
	Steven Szucs	Call of Duty 4	KZN Gaming
2009	Marc Bowes	DotA	Bravado
	Ruben de Freitas	FIFA	Knights Mind Sports Club
	Matthew Hirst	DotA	Bravado
	Xola Magwaza	FIFA	Knights Mind Sports Club
	Kgothatso Moerane	Texting	Tuks Mindsports
	Goddy Roodt	DotA	ClubXploit
	Richard Sjoberg	DotA	Bravado
	Heinz Staschen	DotA	Bravado
	Christopher Van Riel	DotA	Bravado
	Natalie Witoslawski	Texting	Tuks Mindsports
2005	Logan Brooke-Smith	Mobile	Exactmobile
	Werner de Lange	Mobile	Exactmobile
	Wayne Kruger	Manager	Exactmobile
	Ethan Reuben	Mobile	Exactmobile
	Christo Janse van Vuuren	Mobile	Exactmobile

Professionals need to be disciplined

Several years ago while  in Cape  Town on business, I had  the good fortune to stay in the Cullinan  Hotel in Cape Town at the same time as that well known South African rugby team, the Blue Bulls.

Having finished my meetings  quite late at night, I dragged myself off to bed, just as a raucous and celebratory Blue Bulls team  arrived from having played and won.

Too tired to care, I fell asleep, only to be woken in the very early hours by a still celebrating team.

Wishing  to get some sleep (as I still  had business to conduct the  next day), I opened my  door and shouted at the team to  be quiet.

Immediately there was silence, I was content, went back to sleep, and thought nothing of it.

Once Sol had risen, I descended to have breakfast, and was joined by my two colleagues.

While eating  our breakfasts, and discussing our plan of action for the day, the entire Blue Bulls team descended on  us in single file with the manager at the head.

The Manager politely requested that he be allowed to interrupt, on on being given permission, proceeded to apologise for the teams behaviour.

Of course, we all accepted the apology, but the  Manager was not satisfied until each team  member apologised.

The three of us were amazed!

Even  though this was one of the finest professional provincial rugby teams  in South Africa the  team would  still show exemplary discipline and be humble when called upon to do so.

Now, in all my years that I have  been involved with draughts, checkers, esports  and wargames, I have not yet found  a so-called 'professional' that  would  act with a tenth  of the discipline  as exhibited by the Blue Bulls team.

Mind  sports players who consider themselves to be professionals act with unbridled arrogance.

Whereas the  best rugby players will accept the authority of National and Provincial bodies (and those  that represent such  bodies), the so-called professional eSports players, in South Africa, continue to put themselves  at odds  with such, and then wonder why they are  not included in national teams.

Every eSports player in South Africa by now should be aware that  the only way into an official South  African national  team is  through official MSSA championships.

Energy Gaming (eN) and Bravado (Bvd) realised the above  in 2013. Thus in 2013 the DotA 2 team was made up by both teams to give SA its strongest ever DotA 2 team.

2016 is  pregnant with possibilities.

MSSA will be selecting a whole host of teams to represent South Africa.

The question is, are you up to it?

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.

Questions recently asked of the MSSA

Question 1. How does MSSA, help grow eSports?

The short answer is that the MSSA helps to grow eSports in SA through having gained acceptance as a sport by all the relevant governmental and non-governmental authorities. Through such recognition eSports qualifies for funding from national, provincial and local government as well as from the national lottery. The accreditation, although visible in the form of Protea Colours has had other far reaching effects as well. As a result of the accreditation, the MSSA is able to run official school championships and have official clubs established in schools. Not only that, but the MSSA has assisted the development of official eSports clubs at university which has resulted in a number of gamers be awarded with sports bursaries at such universities. The accreditation has also lead to a greater public awareness as well as greater media coverage. Through being a legal entity, the rules used govern eSports in South Africa have also created stability for the titles and for the gamers alike.

Question 2. Exactly how do you let teams qualify or proceed to become a representative of South Africa?

Selection of national teams is a year long process in South Africa. Players from any team that is affiliated to a member club that finishes in the top 3, or top 20% (whichever is greater), at a Provincial or ational Championship automatically qualify for National Team Trials. Since the MSSA runs LANs in 6 out of the 9 provinces, many South Africans are afforded the opportunity of qualifying for Trials with little cost to themselves. Not only that, but the MSSA runs on-line championships which too count towards qualifying for National Team Trials. To further reach all the outlying areas in South Africa, the MSSA allows the winner from any Regional Championship to attend the National Team Trials. There are 56 Regions in South Africa which consist of some of the most remote areas. Thus there is no excuse for anyone to not participate as the MSSA has made it as easy as possible to play in an official championships.

Selection of Provincial Teams is done very differently. The nine Provincial Directors are responsible for the selection of the Provincial Teams according to the rules established by the Provincial Boards of Control.

Question 3. If a number of community members (e.g 80%) wishes that some changed be made to your organization, would you accept it?

The MSSA is a properly constituted association. As such it is accountable primarily to its own members. The vague groups that claim to be the 'community' are often faceless and those speaking do not have the right or authority to speak on behalf of others as they have not been elected to do so. Also, how do you come to the figure of 80%? Is this 80% of every-one who has a computer, or is it 80% of everyone who has ever played a game on a cell-phones,  computers, PS's and or XBOX's? How do you determine the percentage?

Every committee member in the MSSA has been elected to be there and should any change be required, the membership is quite capable of doing so. In fact the MSSA is the most democratic institution in South Africa as all member clubs have voting rights at all General Meetings, and all member clubs have the right to propose Registered Players for positions on any MSSA committee. Therefore the MSSA will not tolerate outside interference whether it be by government, or non affiliated individuals. 

Question 4. What lies in the future for South African eSports? Do you see some great teams competing at the next Big event (e.g Dreamhack 2015, or ESL Katowice)

The MSSA believes that SA has a bright future in eSports. The MSSA has sent teams overseas every year since 2005 except for 2008. In 2008 the MSSA, instead of sending a team overseas, brought SK Gamings CS1.6 and DotA team to South Africa in order to further promote gaming. However, the MSSA encourages any/or all clubs to also participate in the privately owned and run events. Clubs that are affiliated to the MSSA can use National Lottery funding for this purpose. The MSSA also helps clubs to get across to these events, for example, in 2013 the MSSA obtained deferred exams from the University of Cape Town for two eN team members so that they could attend the ESWC. The MSSA believes that unless South African teams play in more overseas events, the standard in South Africa will not improve. Unfortunately overseas travel is an expensive endeavour, but the MSSA is committed to getting more players overseas to official IeSF events in line with further developing the game at home.

Question 5. Where does your support and funds come from to help you host local events? (e.g sponsors or subscription fees)

The MSSA works on a system of registration and entry fees which does not bring in much money due to how little is charged. The rest of the funds that the MSSA receives comes from sponsorships (such as MWEB), donations and grants.

Question 6. What is your employees or volunteers experience with competitive eSports?

The MSSA does not have employees. All the officials are volunteers who dedicate their free time to the development and growth of eSports. Thus all those involved in the eSports Board of Control have a great deal of experience in eSports. Remember all officials are voted in - members would not vote in a person who is not knowledgeable in their field. While a person holds a position, there is also an upward learning curve as the officials have to deal with a greater degree of administration as well as the playing of the various titles.