Past sponsors.

Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA) is deeply indebted to to its sponsors. In an age of continual rising costs none of MSSA's participation would be possible without the support provided by its valued sponsors of the national Protea Esports Team. The cost and effort of getting teams overseas is truly monumental, and the dedication shown by MSSA and its sponsors is truly admirable.

Since 2005, MSSA has sent esports teams out annually to represent South Africa in international competition.

The Protea colours issued are priceless, and offer the athletes unique opportunities that go far beyond just the game.

The sponsors themselves have all benefitted from the relationship. Association with the Protea brand is deeply rooted in the South African psyche.

The full list of companies that have supported the dreams and aspirations of the national Protea Esports Team are:

Year	Sponsors
2019	EnerGHack, ZAG Academy, Partnermedia, NWU, IESF, Tuluntulu
2018	Partnermedia, NWU, ZAG Academy, IESF, BOO! Surprising Media Solutions, Tuluntulu
2017	BOO! Surprising Media Solutions, Tuluntulu, IESF
2016	IESF, BT Games
2015	MWEB*, IESF, BT Games
2014	MWEB*, IESF, BT Games, GIGABYTE, Megarom, Internet Solutions, AMD
2013	MWEB*, ROCCAT, GIGABYTE, Megarom, Internet Solutions, AMD, IESF
2012	GIGABYTE*
2011	Blizzard, LG*, IESF
2010	SAMSUNG*, Blizzard, ASUS, IESF
2009	SAMSUNG*, Incredible Connection, ASUS, Hyundai
2008	ACER, SAMSUNG*
2007	SAMSUNG*
2006	EA*
2005	Exactmobile, First National Bank

* Indicates sponsors that had naming rights of the official national Protea Esports Team.

Also read:

• Calendar of  Events: 2020
• Affiliation: Schools
• Affiliation: Private clubs
• Esports titles selected: MSSA's School Championships.
• Esports titles selected: MSSA's Premier Championships.
• Results of MSSA's 10th Annual Online Championships for High Schools
• Results of MSSA's Western Cape Online Provincial Championships.
• Results: MSSA's 11th Provincial Online Championships
• Results: Gauteng Online Provincial Championships.
• Test Match results: South African Protea DotA 2 team rises triumphant.
• Test Match results: DOTA2: South Africa vs Azerbaijan
• New National Team Selection Criteria
• Selecting the national Protea teams for Mind Sports South Africa.
• Qualifiers: Clash Royale
• Qualifiers: Counter-Strike: GO
• Qualifiers: Dota 2
• Qualifiers: League of Legends
• Qualifiers: Paladins
• Qualifiers: Pro Evolution Soccer
• The road to Eilat
• IESF announces first three titles for 12th World Championships
• IESF's 12th Esports World Championship - Eilat now set to December 6th - 12th, 2020.
• South African Esports Team to represent South Africa in IESF's 12th Esports World Championships - Eilat.
• Tournament Schedule for IESF Regional Qualifiers - 12th World Championships - Eilat.
• Rankings: Clash Royale
• Rankings: Counter-Strike: GO.
• Rankings: DotA 2 rankings
• Rankings: FIFA '20.
• Rankings: HearthStone
• Rankings: League of Legends
• Rankings: Paladins
• Rankings: PRO EVOLUTION SOCCER (PES)
• Rankings: Street Fighter V
• Rankings: Tekken 7 rankings

Question just in....

How is this for a  recent question?

"I  really want to play for the national  team. I realise that it  is my only chance to go overseas and be noticed. Unfortunately my team owner (redacted) has signed a contract with its sponsors that forbids me and all other team members to play for a team  that is not sponsored by that  sponsor. The team owner also refuses to allow the team to take part in MSSA events".

Well, this  is a very complex legal  issue.

If the team owner has signed a contract with  the team's sponsors that  the team members may only play for a team sponsored by such sponsor, then, short of resigning from such team, the player concerned will not be able to play for the national team  if such sponsor does not also sponsor the national team as well.

Also, if the team owner does not want his team to participate in MSSA events, that is his  choice entirely.

However, why anyone would play for such a team is beyond me as the players will be forfeiting many opportunities and limiting their own futures.

Players need to look at their opportunities in both the short-term and the long-term.

However, it must be noted that  a team that is 'owned' by any one individual would not be able to affiliate to MSSA.

MSSA is a non-profit organisation, and only other non-profit organisations may affiliate to MSSA.

Of course is a player is playing for an organisation that  is other than a non-profit  organisation, it could also then be argued that the player is employed by such owner/company. It such a case the Basic Employment Act would apply and the players would be entitled to all sorts of benefits -- including a salary.

Happy 2016!

Are sponsors limiting the growth of eSports?

To date clans cluster around sponsors like hounds around the master who throws scraps to the baying pack to placate the insatiable demand.

All the scraps do is temporarily satiate the hunger pangs which quickly return and leave no real respite.

So does the current sponsorship of eSports. Clans sell their brands for little and the sponsorship thus received does little to promote growth of gaming in terms of the number of gamers, standard of gaming or even the long-term financial sustainability of gaming.

As a result the sponsors too feel they are under siege. As the clans yelp around the sponsors for sponsorship, the sponsors are acutely aware of the transient nature of the clans. In business, any company that has not been in existence for at least ten years is considered to have a high rate of failing. Yet, only the clubs based at schools and universities have survived for more than ten years. Bravado is one of the few clans that is coming up to its tenth year of existence through the herculean efforts of 'bvd-cent'.

Sponsors are also more than aware that most, if not all, clans have no legal status and are often nothing more that individuals operating as Sole-traders. The opportunity for sponsors to thus claim any sponsorship as social development in order to win much needed BEE points is thus negated, and the sponsors themselves are aware that such sponsorships should be treated by those clans as income in the hands of the owners of such clans.

Also, many of the sponsors are aware that many gamers will in fact not buy their products. Gamers are without doubt a very discerning breed when it comes to technology and will favour picking-and-choosing what they need to build up their 'rigs' rather than just buying a finished product.

The types of sponsorships received thus do little for log-term development. While it is nice for a clan to secure hardware for their top clan, such a sponsorship does little to promote gaming and the profitability of the sponsor itself.

And therein lies the rub!

Unless sponsors can see that by sponsoring eSports that they will do more business, it remains more profitable for sponsors to sponsor football, rugby, and/or cricket.

Everybody in eSports thus has a duty to ensure that the sponsors can and will do better.

This does not mean that everybody must run out and quickly start purchasing computers, screens and the such.

Instead, every gamer must help to make it possible for prospective sponsors to substantially increase sales.

One of the ways to do this is to simply tap into NATIONAL LOTTERY FUNDING (NDLTF).

Of course there are criteria that have to be followed in order to do this, but it can be done!

Any club affiliated to the MSSA can apply for up to R200,000.00 per annum. The monies can be spent on equipment, kit, travel and entry fees, but only if:

a. the club is affiliated to the recognised national federation, and

b. has at least three year's audited financial statements.

Through participating in the NDLTF in this way, gamers will be able to unlock substantial amounts which will benefit sponsors and sponsored alike.

The money received will be spent on purchasing new equipment, which will increase the amount of sales and will further encourage companies to commit larger amounts to sponsoring both clans and events.

The growth can thus be exponential as more and more money will be spent in the computer industry.

Remember that approximately R400 million is earmarked every year for sport – it is foolish not to take advantage of this gilded invitation.

By following this course of action, gamers will have taken the initiative in controlling the destiny of eSports in South Africa to become the masters of their own fate.