IESF TO HOST CSGO EVENT FOR FEMALES.

Marissa van der Westhuizen, Captain and flag bearer of the 2018 SA Protea Team. South Africa sent an CSGO team consisting entirely of females to take on the best in the world.

With females having considerably fewer opportunities to play in sports than males, and have less access to adequate facilities near their homes that makes it more difficult for females to engage in sports.

Added to the fact that many sports require a dedicated place to participate – which for many females means traveling to facilities through unsafe neighborhoods. Thus, for many, the only option may be to stay home.

Another reason, despite recent progress, is the perceived discrimination. There is a great deal of bullying, and social isolation of those who compete in sport. Thus during adolescence twice as many girls drop out of sport as what boys do.

Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA) being fully aware that in order to fully promote esports as a sport, it is just not acceptable to ignore development among 50% of the population.

It is also just not good enough to say that esports is not gender based. There are a number of factors that females find exclude them from competition.

Nevertheless, MSSA has always actively promote female participation at all levels - especially in its National Protea Team.

MSSA has taken females as part of its Protea Team to IESF World Esports Championships in 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019. MSSA has always insisted on IESF having events for females, and while Colin Webster was President of IESF, he was known to be unceasing in advocating this issue.

MSSA is thus absolutely delighted that IESF is holding a female event in the Counter-Strike: GO esports title although disappointed that iit is  only a promotional event.

There is no doubt that this is a great opportunity for South Africa's female Counter-Strike: GO community. Where else can our best female athletes earn a trip to Bali for the period of 27 November 2022 to 9 December 2022?

To qualify for selection to the National Protea Team, Players, players shall:

1. If being of the age of majority and have received Protea and/or, National Federation, and/or Provincial Colours in the previous year, shall have successfully completed an Umpires’ Course (if such course was held in the province in which such player resides after the date of being awarded such colours), and
2. Have been awarded Protea and/or National Federation Colours in the previous year, or
3. Have participated in at least 3 MSSA events where such player shall have won a Regional Championship in such period/genre, or have finished in the top 20% or top three places, whichever is greater, at any official Provincial Championships for such period/genre, or have finished in the top 20% or top three places, whichever is greater, at the SA School National Championships for such period/genre, and be fully-paid-up members of an affiliated Member, and be ranked in the top ten of the Ladder for such period/genre.

Also read:

• 2022 Calendar of Events
• Affiliation: Private Clubs
• Affiliation - Schools
• Events: Western Cape Online Provincial Championships - 26 February 2022
• IESF: Bali Confirmed as Host of the 2022 World Esports Championships Finals
• IESF: IESF TO HOST CSGO EVENT FOR FEMALES.
• IESF: Six Game Titles for IESF's 2022 World Esports Championships
• Notices - Transfer season
• Titles - esports: High School Championships
• Titles - esports: Premier Championships
• Titles - esports: Student Championships

Mobile Esports Africa affiliate Call of Duty Mobile.

Mobile Esports Africa, sponsored by Mobile Esports Africa PTY LTD, have now affiliated to Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA).  The club is chaired by Lisa Horn, and the club is interested in becoming involved in every aspect of Call of Duty Mobile (CODM). Ms. Amanda Pakade (MSSA President) stated, "it is wonderful to see yet another club involved in CODM enter the family. Of even greater importance, is that this is yet another esports club headed by a female, which will further help gender equity in gaming". MSSA is confident that the club will have a long and fruitful association within the national federation.

Also read:

• Affiliation: Schools
• Affiliation: Private clubs
• Affiliation: Advantages of affiliation
• Affilliation: Clubs offering CODM
• Calendar of  Events: 2021
• Calendar of Events: 2022 - Proposed
• Entry: South African National Board Games Championships - 4 & 5 December 2021.
• Events: MSSA's South African National Online Esports Championships - 4 December 2021.
• Entry: South African National Wargames Championships - 4 & 5 December 2021.

Gansbaai based club 'Fear Gaming Esports' affiliates to MSSA.

With Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA) having agreed to host Call of Duty Mobile (CODM) at its 2021 South African National Championships on 4 December 2021, more-and-more clubs are taking the plunge and affiliating to MSSA.

The 'plunge' involves clans becoming proper legal entities as clubs. This will benefit all athletes in the long run as there will be good governance and transparency.

Athletes will also be able to battle it out for Regional, Provincial, and National Colours as they climb their way up towards earning a place in South Africa's Protea Team.

Nadia Henrico, Chairwoman of Fear Gaming, has seen the possibilities of running a legal club, and has already expressed her desire to help make esports more accessible to South African children, and especially females.

Fear Gaming Esports was formed with the aim of catering to those wanting a little something more and different to the norm.

The club caters for the more mature gamer, and those wanting to challenge their skills and get out of their comfort zones. The club holds its activities in a controlled and friendly atmosphere where good sportsmanship is promoted.

Weekly 'scrims' are played with invited fellow clans/clubs where meta weapons are taken out of the equation to make things more challenging, and much more fun.

Fear Gaming Esports proudly hosts 'Lethal Ladies scrims'. Such scrims are reserved only for females, with no male participation whatsoever, wherein pink weapons and camo are encouraged.

Ms. Amanda Pakade, MSSA President, has expressed her delight in having Nadia within the fold. Ms. Pakade said, "Having more people within MSSA, who share MSSA's vision of making esports into a delivery system, is a delight and a honour".

MSSA is confident that Fear Gaming will have a long and fruitful association with MSSA.

Fear Gaming Esports' Facebook Page may be found on https://www.facebook.com/102059682320461/posts/102361662290263/ 

Also read:

• Affiliation: Schools
• Affiliation: Private clubs
• Affiliation: Advantages of affiliation
• Affilliation: Clubs offering CODM
• Calendar of  Events: 2021
• Calendar of Events: 2022 - Proposed
• Entry: South African National Board Games Championships - 4 & 5 December 2021.
• Events: MSSA's South African National Online Esports Championships - 4 December 2021.
• Entry: South African National Wargames Championships - 4 & 5 December 2021.

MSSA's Management Board Members.

Morizane Boyes (MSSA's  President) in gaming mode.

Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA) was founded in 1985 and since its inception has relied only upon volunteers to run the organisation.

Volunteers remain the back-bone of MSSA, and without the continued passion of such, MSSA would cease to be.

Even though MSSA pursues aggressive gender policies, the number of female participation on MANCOM  fell from 42% to 31%. This was due to very few females standing for positions at MSSA's Annual General Meeting. Had females contested any/all of the available positions, the current rules would only have allowed the female candidates to have been elected.

With Morizane Boyes holding the position of president, MSSA is confident that the needs and wants of Registered Players who are females will be addressed as never before.

It is should be noted that only MSSA has sent females to participate in every IESF World Championships since 2012 (Cheonan, Bucharest, Baku, Seoul, Jakarta, and Busan). However, it was pleasing to see other national federations starting to emulate MSSA by including females in their teams - well done Thailand!

The full list of MSSA's  Management Board (MANCOM) members for 2017 is as follows:

Position	Name	Term of office	Club
President	Morizane Boyes	2016 -2019	HTS Witbank
Deputy President	James Evans	2017 – 2020	Knights Mind Sports Club
Vice-President (Development)	Johan van Breda	2017 – 2020	ZAGA
Vice-President (Umpiring)	Adele Janse van Rensburg	2016 -2019	Generation X
Vice-President (Liaison)	Sheraaz Nunnian	2016 -2019	East London Esports
Vice-President (Events)	Leonard Loftus	2017 – 2020	Masters of Mind Sports
General Secretary	Colin Webster	2016 -2019	Old Edwardian Wargames Club
Board Gaming Representative	Joseph Matlhong	2016 -2019	North West University – Vaal
Card Gaming Representative	Paula Loftus	2016 -2019	Masters of Mind Sports
Esports Representative	Ryan Boyes	2016 -2019	BNKR
Wargames Representative	Terence Allwright	2017 – 2020	Old Edwardian Wargames Club
Womens’ Desk	Blair Hamberger	2016 -2019	IntenSity E-Sports
Athletes’ Representative	Jason Batzofin	2016 -2019	Old Edwardian Wargames Club
National Schools’ Director	Darryl-Lee Bruce-Smith	2017 – 2020	HTS Sasolburg – Gaming Club
Differently Abled Persons Representative	Twane Tollemache	2016 -2019	BNKR
Legal Representative	Carl Holliday	2016 -2019	Knights Mind Sports Club

MSSA committee members

MSSA was founded in 1985 and since its inception has relied only upon volunteers to run the organisation.

Volunteers remain the back-bone of MSSA, and without the continued passion of such, MSSA would cease to be.

It is also most pleasing to see that the 2016 Annual general Meeting has delivered a committee in which 6 out of the 15 office-bearers are female.

With Morizane Boyes also holding the office of president, MSSA is confident that the needs and wants of Registered Players who are females will be addressed as never before.

It is sad that only MSSA has sent females to participate in every IeSF World Championships since 2012. 

MSSA has had the following committee members for the period 2005 to present:

Factors influencing women participating in sport

Some of MSSA's heroes: Gabrielle Isaacs, Lyrene Kühn, Morizane Boyes, Yolande Williams, and Maryke Kennard.

With females having considerably fewer opportunities to play high school sports than boys, and have. There too is an additional lack of access to adequate facilities near their homes that makes it more difficult for girls to engage in sports.

Added to the fact that many sports require a dedicated place to participate – which for many girls means traveling to facilities through unsafe neighborhoods. Thus, for many, the only option may be to stay home.

Another reason, despite recent progress, is the perceived discrimination. There is a great deal of bullying, and social isolation of those who compete in sport. Thus during adolescence twice as many girls drop out of sport as  what boys do.

Other reasons why females drop out of sport is that the quality level of their sports experience often declines. Generally, facilities allocated to girls are not as good as those allocated to boys. Times allocated to training are often too not optimal (considering the safety factors that need to be taken into account). Training needs to be different, and there are often not enough coaches of quality. Often coaches also tend to focus more on the boys’ programs that have more money for training. Often too equipment, uniforms, and events are not funded at the same levels which means the ability to grow and enjoy the sport is lessened. 

Thus, outside sport, many females do not learn the important life skills such as teamwork, leadership and confidence. Sport are an asset to American families, fostering communication and trust between parents and children

The benefits of playing sport are real.

Over two-thirds of working women consider  that  participating in sport helps their self-image and ability to deal with the pressures of work.

Sport too has a vital part to aid communication at home.

Thus Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA) is absolutely committed to promoting gaming on an equitable basis among both genders.

eSports have a real value in that they can dispense with a lot  of the problems as expressed above. However, caution still has to be exercised as cyber-bullying remains a very real threat.

There is no quick-fix, but MSSA is convinced that it is on the right path.

Leagues and championships for SA females

Oh the shock, the horror, the indignation!

Today gamers had a new talking point. On a couple of fora, gamers have expressed their outrage at why the MSSA should hold leagues and championships just for female gamers.

The main argument is that eSports in particular, and gaming in general, is not dependant on race, class, or gender!

While it is true that females are better drivers, are generally more intelligent, have a better sense of smell, have a better ability to identify hues, and have better social skills, many females remain excluded from all the benefits that society affords.

So it is true for gaming!

There are very few females who are involved in gaming. Those that have entered the fray have had to overcome almost insurmountable odds and have been at the wrong end of intimidation, vulgarity, and boorish behaviour.

The achievements of female gamers are often attacked by various male gamers in an attempt to diminish their achievements in what seems to be a puerile display of jealousy.

Not only that, but the games being promoted often do not express the female gamer's story.

Most of the games are written using the male experience, designed by men and programmed by men.

As a result, the game that comes out does not reflect the female gamer's life experiences.

So with so much still being unknown about the differences between males and females, how can one claim that both genders are the same?

But more than that, why are there male gamers who have taken such affront to separate leagues and championships for women.

Is it not great that double the amount of people can benefit from the advantages?

Is it not great that both males and females have the opportunity to equally represent South Africa?

Why would any man want to deny a female the opportunities that representing South Africa affords them?

What could be the possible reason for one half of the population to deny the other half the opportunity to represent South Africa?

The heated outrage by a few gamers certainly makes you question their motives, does it not?

Could it just be that those that are upset just do not want to share?