Home Gaming There’s just one local player in the “South African” COD team

There’s just one local player in the “South African” COD team

3 min read
104

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eSports is not my beat – but some information’s come about that has me incensed enough to voice my anger and frustration regarding the farce that is this year’s Call of Duty Championships.

As you already know, the team that’ll be representing South Africa (though not officially) in the Call of Duty championships managed to win their qualifier by exploiting a loophole in the MLG’s rules. As per their qualifying rules, just two members on any team needed to actually reside in the country they’re representing. Winners Team RiZe exploited the overseas lag in a peer-to-peer multiplayer game, by getting their matches hosted by their UK-based drafts to snatch victory from – in my opinion – more deserving opponents. 

And so, because of that, the team representing South Africa was comprised of just two actual South Africans. It’s gotten worse. One of the qualifying members, ParadoxX was denied a visa, so Team RiZe has seen it fit to draft in another player from the UK, from a different team all together. Just one player from RiZe, representing South Africa, is from the country.

It appears that rule relating to two members having to be from the country they’re representing applies only to the qualifiers. The MLG rules also state that:

Any changes to a team roster after the tournament has been seeded is at the discretion of tournament staff.

If the new player making up RiZe’s ranks has got his plane ticket, it would be safe to assume that the MLG in their infinite wisdom has okayed everything, and that it all falls within their rules. That, however, doesn’t mean we have to be happy about it. Want to know what makes it worse? These are the sort of people we have representing us:

 If you ask me, Team RiZE and their antics have made a mockery of the qualifiers, a mockery of the championships and a mockery of the hard-working and passionate, eSports-loving people at teams like Hi5 and Adept; either of which I would have loved to see play in the championships in their stead.

Team RiZE…I wish you the best of luck. Wait, no…no I don’t. Screw whatever sense of pride and patriotism I have. I hope you get knocked out in the first round.

31 Call of Duty teams are in Los Angeles to battle for their share of $1 million this weekend. Here’s a list of all 31.

TCM Gaming (UK)
Brazil 5 Stars (Brazil)
Epsilon Esports (UK)
Aztek Gaming (Mexico)
TEC Intensity (UK)
Nsp (South Korea)
Team Orbit (UK)
Trident T1dotters (Australia)
Vitality Rises (France)
Immunity (Australia)
Vitality Returns (France)
VexX Revenge (Canada)
Killerfish (Germany)
WiLD Gaming (Canada)
SK Gaming (Germany)
Echelon (Singapore)
Reign Mix (Sweden)
Complexity (U.S.A.)
AllStars (Netherlands)
OpTic Gaming (U.S.A.)
Wizards (Spain)
EnVyUs (U.S.A.)
Sublime (Italy)
Faze (U.S.A.)
Lightning Pandas (EU)
Team Kaliber (U.S.A.)
Team Rize ZA (South Africa)
Strictly Business (U.S.A.)
Klarity Gaming (UAE)
Rise (U.S.A.)
Xfinity Gaming (U.S.A.)

I’m going to pick one team at random to root for, because I’m sure as hell not supporting RiZe. Zoe’s there to cover the entire event, and should have the opportunity to interview the team. She’s under instruction to ask the hard questions.

Last Updated: March 27, 2014

104 Comments

  1. Admiral Chief of Auraxis

    March 27, 2014 at 12:01

    What the actual flip????

    Reply

  2. Admiral Chief of Auraxis

    March 27, 2014 at 12:03

    Little kids, behaving like CoD players. No wonder its a joke

    Reply

  3. Admiral Chief of Auraxis

    March 27, 2014 at 12:03

    Things like this make me think Trevor has it all figured out with #ForeverSP

    Reply

    • Alien Emperor Trevor

      March 27, 2014 at 12:06

      There is method in my madness.

      Reply

  4. Hammersteyn

    March 27, 2014 at 12:05

    • Admiral Chief of Auraxis

      March 27, 2014 at 12:06

      You said it

      Reply

    • Rince

      March 27, 2014 at 12:32

      HAHAHAHA!

      Reply

  5. Darthdad

    March 27, 2014 at 12:07

    I’ll be surprised if they manage to get past ‘Strictly Business’.
    Ever since this fiasco with the players being based overseas I’ve pledged allegiance to OpTic.
    Looking forward to the weekend.

    Reply

  6. Hammersteyn

    March 27, 2014 at 12:07

    Shouldn’t be surprised really. This is South Africa after all.

    Reply

    • ToshZA

      March 27, 2014 at 13:12

      Actually no. In this case it’s 80% England.

      Reply

      • Eric

        March 27, 2014 at 13:26

        It’s like English sports teams, but in reverse

        Reply

      • Hammersteyn

        March 27, 2014 at 13:36

        The corruption

        Reply

  7. Matt Merks

    March 27, 2014 at 12:08

    Well, that is a pleasant picture of the guys representing us.

    Reply

    • Hammersteyn

      March 27, 2014 at 12:13

      Real class

      Reply

    • Uberutang

      March 27, 2014 at 12:25

      Pretty standard pic of any console cod player, IMHO

      Reply

      • Hammersteyn

        March 27, 2014 at 12:31

        Yeah, because only console players acts like that

        Reply

  8. Admiral Chief of Auraxis

    March 27, 2014 at 12:08

    “Screw whatever sense of pride and patriotism I have. I hope you get knocked out in the first round.”

    Couldn’t agree more

    Reply

    • Hammersteyn

      March 27, 2014 at 12:11

      E-SPEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEERRRRRRRRTTTTTTTTTSSSSSS

      http://cdn.gifbay.com/2013/04/a_hippo_and_his_diarrhea-41819.gif

      Reply

      • Admiral Chief of Auraxis

        March 27, 2014 at 12:17

        *vomits*

        Reply

      • ToshZA

        March 27, 2014 at 13:11

        Um, did Unavenged hack your account or something? WTF!

        Reply

      • Rince

        March 27, 2014 at 14:27

        Going for the @Unavengedavo:disqus awards? 0-O

        Reply

        • Hammersteyn

          March 27, 2014 at 14:30

          Raised the stakes as it were.

          Reply

    • Unavengedavo(aka. Bilbo)

      March 27, 2014 at 12:18

      But how can you be patriotic to a team that isn’t even South-African O_o

      Reply

      • Admiral Chief of Auraxis

        March 27, 2014 at 12:21

        Was quoting Geoff, and what I agreed upon is that they get knocked out in 1st round

        Reply

        • Unavengedavo(aka. Bilbo)

          March 27, 2014 at 12:30

          Lol, screw it… I am not going to argue if both of us are actually in agreement 😛

          Was just saying that you(as in people in general) can’t be patriotic to a team that isn’t even part of your country.

          Reply

          • Admiral Chief of Auraxis

            March 27, 2014 at 12:39

            Lol yeah

  9. Spathi

    March 27, 2014 at 12:10

    COD 🙂

    Reply

  10. Labey-Kun

    March 27, 2014 at 12:12

    We are already having a hard time with the world recognizing us as pro gamers but immature behaviour like this is just sinking is even deeper into the hole

    Reply

  11. Hammersteyn

    March 27, 2014 at 12:13

    Expect the exact same photograph after the first round of the competition when they get back on the plane

    Reply

  12. Macethy

    March 27, 2014 at 12:14

    Looking at the photo from Twitter, I can fully understand why NOBODY takes “professional gamers” seriously…

    Reply

  13. Dark

    March 27, 2014 at 12:18

    Think the MLG rules need a look at……. these guys should rather be representing England.

    Reply

  14. Ottokie

    March 27, 2014 at 12:18

    This guy in the back seats face is priceless.

    Reply

    • Tarisma

      March 27, 2014 at 12:43

      Is that really the team?

      Reply

    • Grimthwacker

      March 27, 2014 at 12:50

      Way to keep it classy……. What a bunch of w*nkers.

      Reply

  15. Ultimo_Cleric N7

    March 27, 2014 at 12:22

    Hope they get knocked out……by someone large and muscular

    Reply

    • Admiral Chief of Auraxis

      March 27, 2014 at 12:22

      LOOOL

      Reply

  16. Ryanza

    March 27, 2014 at 12:24

    So this is what you call a team South Africa, where only one person is South African.

    But where we have a proper South African team in the Battlefield tournament, we call that team Southern Barbarians.

    How can we be proud of a South African team where the players don’t even give a fuck about South Africa.

    What can I say? I hope the monkey does well? fuck this shit. Go do a dance for England’s B team.

    Reply

  17. Rikus

    March 27, 2014 at 12:25

    “Team RiZE…I
    wish you the best of luck. Wait, no…no I don’t. Screw whatever sense of
    pride and patriotism I have. I hope you get knocked out in the first
    round.”

    Seconded….

    Reply

  18. FSR

    March 27, 2014 at 12:27

    Don’t fret, Strictly Business will DECIMATE them. As will all of the teams in their group. What a joke and insult to the many who have poured their hearts and souls into growing CoD in this country.

    Reply

  19. Rags

    March 27, 2014 at 12:27

    Should’ve rather sent Zoe along with Ph4ntom and Detrony to Dreamhack.
    FPS gaming on a console: Fail
    MGL: Fail
    4UK player representing SA: Fail
    5 Assholes representing SA: Fail

    Reply

  20. ElNicko

    March 27, 2014 at 12:28

    Watch out…..we have a few Badasses on that plane. Are these guys like 12 ?? they barely look old enough to be out of primary school.

    Reply

    • Unavengedavo(aka. Bilbo)

      March 27, 2014 at 12:38

      Reply

      • ElNicko

        March 27, 2014 at 12:51

        So Much Win !!

        Reply

  21. Rince

    March 27, 2014 at 12:32

    What? It’s like an “English” football division! BWAHAHAH Where the only person who is actually English on the field is the fucking linesman! Trololo

    Reply

    • Hammersteyn

      March 27, 2014 at 12:33

      Maybe if out football was setup like that we might actually win something.

      Reply

      • Rince

        March 27, 2014 at 12:33

        Indeed 😉

        Reply

    • Alien Emperor Trevor

      March 27, 2014 at 12:44

      *soccer

      Reply

      • Rince

        March 27, 2014 at 12:48

        lulz

        Reply

  22. Gerhard Davids

    March 27, 2014 at 12:36

    “She’s under instruction to ask the hard questions.” I dig it

    Reply

  23. Tarisma

    March 27, 2014 at 12:45

    Well think of it this way we give England the majority of their cricket players and a lot of “provincial” rugby players. It seems this trade off is only fair!

    Reply

    • Norm the Horrible

      March 27, 2014 at 12:55

      Boom!

      Reply

  24. DBL_ZA

    March 27, 2014 at 12:49

    Pathetic

    Reply

  25. Rince

    March 27, 2014 at 12:50

    Shame, I think Geoff feels left out from all the lawsuit stuff…

    Reply

    • Hammersteyn

      March 27, 2014 at 18:50

      Then he should tackle someone he gives a shit,unlike the MLG

      Reply

  26. Gavin Mannion

    March 27, 2014 at 12:52

    I just read through that guys twitter feed…. Help I lost 89 IQ points

    Reply

    • Norm the Horrible

      March 27, 2014 at 12:54

      As did I.

      Reply

    • Double-O-Six and a half

      March 27, 2014 at 15:17

      Some things can NEVER be undone!!! at least look on the bright side… you’ve still got a higher IQ than the COD SA kindergarten team…. combined…

      Reply

    • Hammersteyn

      March 27, 2014 at 18:49

      hahaha

      Reply

  27. Ryanza

    March 27, 2014 at 12:52

    Why are there more than one team from the same country?

    Reply

  28. Robert Hart

    March 27, 2014 at 13:05

    You sort of have to also lay some blame on MGL who made the decision to allow all of this.

    Reply

  29. Mielies the Magnificent

    March 27, 2014 at 13:07

    Well, at least we know their twitter handler now…

    Reply

  30. InsanityFlea

    March 27, 2014 at 13:09

    I somehow imagined all COD players to be immature & stupid. ( I was right! ) There are some exceptions though, very few and far between.

    Reply

    • Gr8_Balls_o_Fire

      March 31, 2014 at 09:14

      CoD is M-Rated right? Are these kids even old enough? I haven’t seen the pic.

      Reply

  31. Kensei Seraph

    March 27, 2014 at 13:11

    This pretty much sums up my opinion.

    “Go team SA. Well the one guy that fucking comes from South Africa anyways.”

    Reply

    • Admiral Chief of Auraxis

      March 27, 2014 at 13:49

      I know the dude who tweeted that quite well. Quite the legend here on Lagz as well…..

      Reply

      • Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

        March 27, 2014 at 14:01

        You mean that’s Tim? 😛 He looks 10 years old.

        Reply

        • Admiral Chief of Auraxis

          March 27, 2014 at 14:03

          No, I said “quite the legend”

          Reply

          • Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

            March 27, 2014 at 17:10

            Uh, me? But I’m not on a plane….

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            March 27, 2014 at 19:20

            Lies Jimmy – you’re the black box!

          • Admiral Chief of Auraxis

            March 27, 2014 at 21:21

            I said legend, not fruit

            😛

          • Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

            March 28, 2014 at 09:06

            Bastard! My plums are legendary!

          • Sageville

            March 28, 2014 at 12:49

            As the only legend on Lazygamer, I take serious offense being compared to one of these underlings!

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            March 28, 2014 at 14:58

            I’m sure it was an honest myth-take.

  32. InsanityFlea

    March 27, 2014 at 13:19

    I hope they packed their acne facewash.

    Reply

    • Admiral Chief of Auraxis

      March 27, 2014 at 13:49

      XD

      Reply

  33. DrKiller

    March 27, 2014 at 13:51

    Would you guys have felt better about the team if this guy on the right didn’t look like a mop? 😉

    Reply

    • Sir Rants A Lot Llew. Jelly!!!

      March 27, 2014 at 14:57

      Well I hope the other teams use his mop head to mop the floor with the team

      Reply

  34. boondocksaint87

    March 27, 2014 at 13:54

    Kan ek net asb daai fokken laaities ‘n PK gee asb!

    Reply

    • Admiral Chief of Auraxis

      March 27, 2014 at 13:59

      Jy het my toestemming, gaan gerus voort

      Reply

  35. Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

    March 27, 2014 at 13:58

    Wow… these tossers are worse than Bafana… Look at them! You just want to punch them in their gobs.

    Reply

  36. Graeme Selvan

    March 27, 2014 at 14:11

    I cant even begin to explain how I feel right now. What Utter bullshit.

    Reply

  37. Rainman

    March 27, 2014 at 14:33

    Now a good reporter would have elaborated why ParadoxX was denied a visa….. 🙂

    Reply

    • Sir Rants A Lot Llew. Jelly!!!

      March 27, 2014 at 14:57

      I think they’d rather avoid any further legal litigation 😉

      Reply

    • Sageville

      March 28, 2014 at 12:52

      Dammit, now I want to know why too!

      Reply

  38. Sir Rants A Lot Llew. Jelly!!!

    March 27, 2014 at 14:49

    DAFUQ???? Team SA yet with only 1 SA Player and little kids who disgrace our country by zapping the camera for public posting!?

    WHy are they not being fined for inappropriate behavior?

    If the MSSA is so insistent that they are like big sporting institutes such as SARU and stuff then they should be putting a stop to this kind of disgraceful attitude.

    They are OFFICIALLY supporting our country and bringing disgrace with their behavior.

    But noooooooooo. Let a team who was doing our country proud remove the use of the flag and refuse them the use of the name South Africa in their team but allow this.

    What… the actual…. GAHHH!!!!!

    Reply

  39. Sk3tz0

    March 27, 2014 at 15:57

    Fk ’em … May their Spawn Points forever be Camped..

    Reply

    • Hammersteyn

      March 27, 2014 at 18:48

      LOL

      Reply

  40. vitam1n

    March 27, 2014 at 16:26

    Surely the one/two South African guys are mostly to blame here? Since without them there would be no team RiZE ZA. They are the enablers here.

    Reply

    • Robert Hart

      March 27, 2014 at 18:25

      If not them, then someone else with 4 EU players would have just taken their spot in this fiasco.

      Reply

      • Sageville

        March 28, 2014 at 12:54

        Doesn’t anyone else feel like the UK ninja’d our single african qualifying slot?

        If ever there was a case for fronting….

        Reply

  41. Jason Ashman

    March 28, 2014 at 04:33

    aussie aussie aussie! … no… anybody?

    Reply

    • Sageville

      March 28, 2014 at 12:55

      Shouldn’t you be out looking for MH370?

      Reply

      • Gr8_Balls_o_Fire

        March 31, 2014 at 09:12

        Too soon man.

        Reply

  42. Sageville

    March 28, 2014 at 12:58

    So essentially SA gave our qualifying spot to Team Orbit (UK) left overs.

    Reply

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