Home Features A new MSSA under Morizane Boyes?

A new MSSA under Morizane Boyes?

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So over the Christmas break the local eSports affiliation, Mind Sports South Africa, had their elections and they’ve now got a brand new president. And yes we’ve heard this before when the previous president, Simphiwe Maphumulo, was elected. However with Simphiwe it very quickly became apparent he wasn’t willing to discuss anything with the community and was quickly seen as simply a puppet president and subsequently ignored.

As such when I heard the MSSA had a new president I had absolutely no interest in getting involved. I gave up on the organisation a long time ago but then I saw that TechGirl had done an interview with new MSSA president Morizane Boyes and her answers seemed reasonable. After I left a comment there, she reached out to me on Facebook to see if I would be interested in chatting with her.

A few days later and I’m sitting down having a Skype voice conversation with Morizane.

While the interview obviously got off to a pretty formal start, as I ensured that I informed her the interview was being recorded and that everything said between us was officially on the record, I very quickly realised that Morizane is a very different president to the last two presidents: Simphiwe Maphumulo and Colin Webster.

In fact I was quite struck by the fact that not only did Morizane willingly accept that the MSSA had made missteps in the past but that her goal really did feel like she wanted to improve eSports locally. Morizane is well aware of the feelings in the community about the MSSA – and Colin Webster specifically – and is adamant that she will be able to reverse these feelings and start getting the support of the community, as was apparent with her first response to a formal question

What are your credentials for being President of the MSSA

Well, I’ve served on the MSSA now for 3 years, I’ve been learning the ins and outs and stuff. I have been, I think, a very positive kind of person within the community, within MSSA’s community, which obviously got me elected as a no-bullshit kind of person. You know if I don’t like it, I don’t like it and I’m probably one of the people that tell Colin he is wrong the most. I’m passionate about what I do and I make sure that when I say I’m going to do something I follow through. I know how to deal with people, I actually have people skills.

Hence my opening-up to the community and saying, ‘Listen I see there are problems, I know there are problems, I hear your frustrations, let me talk to you, let me go the extra mile and do what I need to do.’

And she’s not shying away from the problems. According to Morizane, her first few weeks as President have been spent reaching out to vocal anti-MSSA players and members of the community and discussing in detail with them what their problems with the organization are and how they can work together to fix them.

mssa

However many people who have dealt with the MSSA also know that its problems are often pinned on one man. Colin Webster has been a dividing figure, fairly or not, in the MSSA and eSports for many years.

I raised the fact with Morizane that her Techgirl interview went down very well and people were responding well, up until Colin Webster entered the comment section and once again managed to rile the community up. I have to say her answer surprised me.

Look, Colin and I have a very open relationship as well. Obviously I’ve gotten to understand his inner workings in the last bit and Colin and I do get on very well but Colin and I are going to have a very long talk today because he is, he is literally messing with my hard work at this point in time

I mean you’ve dealt with Colin, you know what he’s like. It’s sometimes easier said than done but unfortunately if it comes down to, you know where I’m going to have to gag-order him at some stage.

You know if we put it down to a democratic vote… because I mean as Colin is always saying, it is a democracy, we do have to say what we have to and we’ve obviously got to make decisions that are the best for the MSSA – if this is the route I have to go, it’s the route I have to go but you know obviously I’m going to have to just take him on today because like you say, it’s aggressive and everything keeps coming back to Colin Webster

And this is what I’m trying to say: the MSSA – and this is what I need people to realize – the MSSA is not Colin Webster

So far so good in my mind. Obviously time will tell if Morizane is able to change the face of the MSSA to be something other than Colin but she does sound like she’s on the right track. One of the biggest things I’ve always wanted from the MSSA was for it to partner/affiliate/ally with the private eSports groups locally and I raised this with her as well and she stated that she would absolutely look at affiliation with them, and not only that, but that they’d love for their players to play in as many tournaments as possible.

The DGL and Star Ladder, whatever you guys want to look at it as are beneficial to us, because at the end of the day there is this little stigma running around – and I’ve heard it from a bunch of clubs at this stage – that we have a clause in the contract that doesn’t allow anybody to play for DGL or whatever which is utter, utter bullshit. We want you guys to play as many tournaments as possible. Why? Because it just improves you as a player – you cannot say you’re the best in the country if you’re not playing as many tournaments as you can.

But not to only to be playing in tournaments; rather to be playing in accredited tournaments so that you are able to qualify for your provincial or national teams through those tournaments. Morizane, at the time of the interview, was desperately trying to get hold of the coordinators of the DGL and other tournaments to discuss these options so hopefully that does happen.

And that’s it for Part 1 of the interview, stay tuned next week to find out what Morizane thinks of the Southern Barbarians, the SASCOC suspension, the local hardcore eSports community, lottery funding and just who Matatheni Mosotho is.

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Last Updated: February 10, 2017

32 Comments

  1. Allykhat

    February 10, 2017 at 11:50

    The problem with the Stigma behind Collin and the MSSA is that it will continue to stick as long as he is even remotely involved. While I am SUPER happy that we finally have a real person in charge who actually seems to give a shit, I honestly don’t see people just forgiving the MSSA overnight, especially while he is still involved.

    The mere fact that Morizane may have to “gag-order” him is a clear indication that he is still an issue and will continue to be an issue as long as he still has any bit of power or sway in the organisation.

    The local houses like Energy and Brovado may do a team up at some point just to show support, but even then I rate it would be highly unlikely and very “touch and go”.

    Oh and btw, this is my own opinion so that certain people (Collin) can’t sue our CritcalHit/Lagz peepz. <3

    Reply

    • Zoe Hawkins

      February 10, 2017 at 12:08

      hahaha, BROvado sounds fitting.

      Also, yeah – agree that while it sounds good so far, i’m still very wary of believing in actual change.

      Reply

    • Kromas Ryder

      February 10, 2017 at 12:23

      The second she gets rid of him is the second I believe that the MSSA might still have a chance. Not a second before that.

      Reply

      • Allykhat

        February 10, 2017 at 12:26

        Exactly dude. As the Admiral said, Once bitten, forever shy.

        Reply

  2. Admiral Chief

    February 10, 2017 at 11:52

    GG Gav, and GG to Morizane. As @Admiral_Chief:disqus mentioned, as long as Collin is involved, it will be difficult. Once bitten, forever shy

    Reply

  3. Admiral Chief

    February 10, 2017 at 11:52

    GG Gav, and GG to Morizane. As @Allykhat:disqus mentioned, as long as Collin is involved, it will be difficult. Once bitten, forever shy

    Reply

  4. For the Emperor!

    February 10, 2017 at 12:12

    Sounds promising. Time will tell though how much “he who must not be named lest one gets sued” is still involved in ruining stuff.

    Reply

  5. Spathi

    February 10, 2017 at 12:19

    The best of luck to her! I mean it sincerely. She seems like she will try to make amends for all the bullshit the MSSA is famous for.

    On another note, I’ve read one or two of Matatheni Mosotho’s articles, and the dude seems like a proper cunt.

    Reply

    • Allykhat

      February 10, 2017 at 12:31

      Is he real though?
      Never seen a pic of the guy on FB or anything? If memory serves, he is a fictional alter-ego of Mr. CW himself.

      Edit: FOUND IT!:
      http://www.criticalhit.net/gaming/colin-webster-is-matatheni-mosotho/

      Reply

      • Spathi

        February 10, 2017 at 12:35

        Can honestly not say what the true facts are.

        Edit to your edit: Wow, would never have guessed!

        Reply

      • Magoo

        February 10, 2017 at 13:34

        Holy carp… Just read that for the first time.

        Reply

  6. Kromas Ryder

    February 10, 2017 at 12:22

    This article is all nice and well but I am a “Proof is in the pudding” and “actions speak louder than words” type of guy.

    Show me change and I will show you support. Up until then these are just sweet words.

    Reply

  7. Craig "CrAiGiSh" Dodd

    February 10, 2017 at 12:25

    Guess only time will tell but not holding my breath.

    Reply

  8. Magoo

    February 10, 2017 at 12:31

    Inb4 Colin!

    Reply

  9. RinceThis

    February 10, 2017 at 12:34

    Damn, well done Gav.

    Reply

  10. Raptor Rants

    February 10, 2017 at 12:35

    0_0

    Wait…. *checks outside*

    Yep, same timeline. I think….

    Quick, what’s my number everyone?

    Reply

    • Ottokie

      February 10, 2017 at 12:36

      #8

      Reply

      • Raptor Rants

        February 10, 2017 at 12:36

        I’ve fallen through a wormhole. I knew it! There was no other way for the MSSA to sound so good 0_0

        I like this new timeline 🙂

        Reply

        • Ottokie

          February 10, 2017 at 12:37

          Your Raptor does not have the sharingan anymore.

          Reply

          • Raptor Rants

            February 10, 2017 at 12:41

            yes it does. It’s just darker. The glaringly obvious red was getting to me

    • R1ker

      February 10, 2017 at 15:00

      I think hell just froze over

      Reply

  11. Banana Jim's Final Form!

    February 10, 2017 at 12:51

    I can’t remember if this was ever answered, but was Simphiwe Maphumulo an actual real person, or just one of Colin Webster’s RealDolls™?

    Reply

    • Raptor Rants

      February 10, 2017 at 12:52

      I think you are confusing Simphiwe with that blogger. What was his name @Admiral_Chief:disqus ? Some sportswriter something or other? On a little blob?

      Reply

    • Gavin Mannion

      February 10, 2017 at 13:47

      Simphiwe is 100% a real person we’ve spoken to him in person before.

      He wasn’t an eSports player though, remember MSSA does many things (too many possibly) and eSports is just one of them

      Reply

  12. Aries

    February 10, 2017 at 13:14

    Well done @lazygamers:disqus , though it just feels like she saying all the right words and then I read the comments on Techgirl’s blog and that all went to shit and feels like MSSA is just here to block the growth of esports in SA as usual

    Reply

  13. Anthony Nell

    February 10, 2017 at 13:18

    Nice article, I appreciate what this lady is trying to do and that her hard work comes from a place of genuine care about the various communities. 10/10

    Where I will probably always be on the other side of the fence is that Nationalised eSports is a stupid idea and just doesn’t work. People are still trying to figure out how franchised eSports will work, and how you can set up investor security by using someone elses IP (like in the Riot Games cases). I will be happy to look at working with people who are smart and who actually want to learn about how eSports works in the business sense, but as long as Colin is anywhere near the organisation you can forget about it. I mean just yesterday he was threatening legal action against a few guys who admin the ZA Gamers Alliance Facebook group for gods sake.

    Besides, there are things happening in the next 12 months that will blow Nationalised eSports back to the stone age and completely shadow all of this tomfoolery anyways. I do wish Morizane the best of luck, and she is always welcome to approach myself and other owners for advice and to chat about her work.

    Reply

    • Gavin Mannion

      February 10, 2017 at 13:46

      Yeah I know a lot of people don’t agree with the principle of an eSports body. but I’m on the other side.

      For the immediate future I can’t see how they can work well with the main MGO’s but if they ran the school leagues properly and gave everyone a fair shake it could change things dramatically.

      Reply

      • Anthony Nell

        February 10, 2017 at 14:01

        It’s not even that I don’t agree with it, at it’s core it is an illogical concept. eSports is not a sport, it is a collective arrangement of IP owned by a rather large group of people, unlike soccer or cricket. The act of playing said IP is where the sport comes in. You cannot nationalise someone elses IP and invest millions into it when at any moment the carpet may be pulled from under you, it does not make sense. The money being paid by the billion is all for content made by what is essentially regarded as talent, not sportsman or athletes. The entire notion is about 5 years behind conversation on an international scale.

        I also think there is far more value for corporate (they have the $$$) to do this than there is with some failed national body that has been mismanaged for the better part of a decade. If they fully restructured and paid some attention to what the business of eSports is doing internationally it would go a hell of a long way to helping them build an actual PoA.

        Reply

    • Morizane Boyes

      February 10, 2017 at 17:21

      I would love to have a chat with you please let me know when you are available.

      Reply

      • Anthony Nell

        February 11, 2017 at 18:44

        Im available all weekend Morizane, you have my number, give me a call or shoot me a message anytime 🙂

        Reply

  14. HvR

    February 10, 2017 at 18:46

    Would have thought Gavin would ever right a nice story about the MSSA on his blob ever again.

    Good Luck to Morizane.

    Reply

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