South African Draughts

[JR Smith]

Colin Webster, President of Mind Sports South Africa Association (MSSA) is at it again!

Apparently a personality conflict between the two has caused Webster to block Lubabalo Kondlo from attending the October 19th thru 22nd, 2011 GAYP -World Qualification Tournament, San Remo, Italy and representing South Africa. Its a repeat of 2008!

Even though this is South Africa's best hope for recognition, since Kondlo is one of the most talented and qualified Grand-Master they have. He is proven and experienced in competition draughts. Alan Millhone has a sponsor for Lubabalo Kondlo to go to Italy, but MSSA (Webster) seems to have problems holding trials to see who qualifies!! A repeat of 2008 with the same excuses and procedures, which has been 3 years to work it out and know who should represent SA.

I have a link to a news article: Mind-boggling omission that will refresh you memory.
http://mg.co.za/article/2008-10-03-mind ... g-omission

[JR Smith]

Here is Lubabulo Kondlo's flickr Photo Share Account: http://www.flickr.com/search/?w=all&q=Kondlo+&m=text

2008 King vs Kondlo - GAYP WCM: http://www.nccheckers.org/NCCA/2008%20K ... YP-WCM.htm

[Danny_Alvarez]

cant another association nominate Kondlo and he can go anyway??

cheers
Danny

[Alan Millhone]

Hello Everyone:

To get things off on the right foot................. Lubabalo Kondlo has his passport and is a current and paid up member of MSSA. I have a sponsor for him who will pay ALL his expenses to Italy. It appears the hold up now is for MSSA to hold " trials " to see who wins and thus who gets to attend and represent SA at qualifier.

Rumor is there is no funding to hold a qualifier and majority of the best players live in Port Elizabeth area , which is the poorest area in South Africa.

The WCDF is offering a free room for the SA player who attends. So it is obvious that the WCDF desires South African to send a player .

Lubabalo will need a VISA to visit Italy and he has looked into that matter and no problen in that area.

All I hear from MSSA is "rules " that have to be followed. Rules are fine, as long as a South African player can leave the country for the qualifier or any event for that fact.

Lubabalo was invited by WCDF on a " wild card " the time he won and was able to thus challenge Suki for the world's title.

Lubabalo is severly disadvantaged economically and I have found a sponsor who believes in Mr. Kondlo . It is now up to the WCDF to invite him to enter and thus get the show on the orad.

WCDF currently has Mr. Kondlo rated as # 2 and ACF current ratings has Mr. Kondlo as # 1 . Opinions will vary on placement on both lists, but most will agree Lubabalo is towards the very top of both ratings lists.

Sincerely:

Alan Milhone, President
American Checker Federation
" Leave no one behind "

[tommyc]

Thanks to JR for highlighting this....

More on the earlier heated debate can be found in;;;;;Tournament discussion,........under Irish Open /Qualifier 2010.

[Alan Millhone]

Hi Tommy:

Nothing should be " heated " this time around. Lubabalo simply needs to go and enter the World Qualifier. Likely the WCDF will invite him shortly so not to exclude any part of our Draughts/Checkers playing world.

Sincerely:

Alan Millhone, President
American Checker Federation
" LEAVE NO ONE BEHIND "

" LEAVE NO ONE BEHIND " was my campaign slogan when I first ran for ACF President. It is also in my job description as ACF President to scour the planet looking for talent and get those persons to tournaments if possible. Nothing has changed and I have not changed .

[JR Smith]

Here is another article published in 11/18/2008 at MyPE.co.za Port Elizabeth's Community Web Site
Lubabalo Kondlo - Port Elizabeth's World Draughts Champion
http://www.mype.co.za/modules.php?name= ... e&sid=3087


lubabalo n kondlo Google Search gives you these links:

http://www.google.com/search?sclient=ps ... 80&bih=719

[JR Smith]

Here is a link to the blog on the Movie King Me
Which you can move back and forward through their filming of this wonderful draughts/checkers documentary film and one thing for sure.... Lubabalo N. Kondlo should be at the 2011 GAYP -World Qualification Tournament, San Remo, Italy.

The reason this link opens on this page is the last paragraph, Geoff states:

the game of checkers, like life, isn’t always fair.

This couldn't be truer that right now!

http://www.kingmemovie.com/?tag=lubabalo-kondlo

[JR Smith]

You may read a letter on http://www.nccheckers.org concerning this subject under home page.


*************************************************************************************************************

Hugh Devlin, President of WCDF responded... I hope you find the attached informative. Thanks, Hugh
Its a Google document so you may need an account to access?
https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid= ... o_Lp6XhM8g

[Hugh Devlin]

June 6th 2011
An open letter to Mr. Alan Millhone, President, American Checkers Federation.
.

A number of questions have arisen during the past month about South Africa’s willingness and ability to send a representative checker player to compete in the WCDF QT at San Remo, Italy, during October 2011 and I’d like to make comment and clarify issues relating to this situation in this communication. In doing so I’d like to discuss the background to this present situation and the current issues as they are as of today.

In South Africa the governing body for the game of checkers is Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA). This came about because checker players there had asked the organisation that was formally named the “South African Wargames Union” (SAWU) to take it on and help to organise checkers in a coordinated way at a national level. This similar situation occurred with the African game of “Morabaraba” and so the SAWU changed its name to the Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA) in order to reflect this enlarged community of “Mind Sports”. Today MSSA promotes a variety of “Mind Sports” including “Wargames”, “Morabaraba”, “Checkers” and “eSports”.

MSSA is an affiliate of the South African Confederation of Sport and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) – their National Sports Council on which they have a delegate. Please note that the MSSA is run by a committee and run in accordance to the South African Sports and Recreation Act as well as to its own Rules and Regulations. With official recognition as a “sport” comes responsibility on how they conduct their affairs. Thus, the MSSA are required to fully comply with the “South African Sports and Recreation Act” and with policies and procedures as set down by SASCOC, and so the MSSA's Constitution and Regulations are designed to meet these requirements. It can be difficult for an onlooker to comprehend what this involves as no other checker organisation that I know of worldwide are being asked to do this. Thus the MSSA outline a procedure for selection as follows:


1. An application must be made to the South African Confederation of Sport and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) for permission to attend such an event.

2. Only players who are registered members of a club that is affiliated to the MSSA can enter.

3. For any South African players to attend, the MSSA will have to raise funds to pay for the following: (a) Kit (a requirement set down by SASCOC), (b) Visa costs, (c) Airfare (d) Accommodation.

4. When the finances’ are secured then “trials” (a selection event) must be held, so that the process is open, transparent, and fair to everyone.

5. A “Selection Committee” will then select the player/players who will travel. This will not be influenced by anyone outside of this process.

6. Government support will be sought to endorse this selection and award “colours” to the selected individuals.

7. The process is non-negotiable as it is a requirement in law.

Within South Africa all sports bodies are encouraged to be financially self sufficient, except for those who participate in high profile events such as the World Cup (soccer), the Olympic Games, the Commonwealth Games, etc, where extra governmental funding is sometimes provided.

Within the MSSA the number of registered checker players is small compared to other games such as Morabaraba and eSports. Even then, the vast majority of checker players apply for their fees to be waived under their financial aid programme, so the income received from checker players is a pittance. It should be remembered that all checkers players in SA come from a highly financially disadvantaged sector of South African society. Because of this there is an increased dependence on securing sponsorship to fund checker events there.

Despite this the game of checkers has gained many advantages from their association with MSSA, most of which are not apparent to those from outside of South Africa.

• South Africa now has an organised structure in which the game is played and promoted. They hold provincial checker championships annually, and the top players from these are invited to attend an annual South African National Checker Championship. They also promote clubs through their system of primary schools and in their universities.

• Protea Colours: Because of this association S.A.’s “international” checker players are recommended to South Africa’s Minister of Sport & Recreation to be awarded “Protea colours” - the highest award for a sportsman in South Africa in recognition of their representing S.A. in an international sports event. This can only be given with government sanction. These “Protea colours” are viewed as a “badge of honour” in SA and both Lubabulo Kondlo and Feni Madona received this for playing against me in the promotion tour I was involved in during 2001. Rhonnie Manana and Thabo Mokoena also received this when they played for S.A. against the Irish Youth team in a match held in England during 2002.

• Publicity: When I visited South Africa in 2001 to play against both Lubabulo and Feni the publicity generated by MSSA was second to none. Lubabulo and myself were interviewed on South Africa’s National Television station, (on one of their most popular shows) before the match was played. We had our pictures published in the national daily newspapers, regional newspapers, and interviewed on radio. The results of the two matches went out on television, radio, and newspapers. The game of draughts, and the individuals involved received huge publicity via MSSA.

• Promotion: Even though the MSSA receive few funds from Checkers, they still had 10,000 checkers sets (boards & pieces) made in 2007. These have been distributed free to all primary schools in South Africa (through the Dept of Education), to all detention centres /prisons (thought the Dept of Justice), to all S.A. army posts, both within South Africa and overseas (through the Department of Defence), not to mention youth clubs, social clubs, individuals, etc. This was done in the belief that if you want people to play checkers, then having the equipment available will encourage and facilitate it.

• University bursaries: These are sports scholarships to universities that are made available to individuals who meet certain criteria in SA. As a recognised sports body MSSA can support applications from their own membership to access these scholarships. Both Rhonnie Manana and Thabo Mokoena who represented South Africa in the 2002 youth checker match against Ireland received these bursaries. They were both orphans and came from disadvantaged communities. Today one of them is a junior Bank Manager, and the other a Chartered Accountant. MSSA currently has 13 members in receipt of these bursaries.

• I’m currently asking MSSA to make representations to have the World Mind Sports Games recognised as a high profile event to enable S.A. checker players to be present there.


No-one denies that much remains to be done. The background to the current issue is that the WCDF received an approach asking that we invite Lubabulo Kondlo from South Africa to participate in the WCDF QT 2007 as a “Wild Card” entry. This approach was made because the WCDF Byelaws (2007) facilitated this possibility. There was considerable debate within the WCDF Executive Board at that time as to whether we should proceed with this, as I had been informed by the MSSA that doing so would be in breech of their National Sports policy – i.e. anyone representing S.A. could only do so with the consent of that games’ national body, and under South African sports law there were procedures that needed to be complied with.

It is no secret that when I became aware of this conflict of procedure that I personally felt that the WCDF should not proceed with this request on the basis that the WCDF cannot interfere in any country’s National sports policy. This objection had nothing to do with the individual person concerned, but was made on a point of principle, and in compliance with WCDF byelaws. (1.4). History records that I was overruled on this and the Executive Board issued the invitation. The WCDF approached Walter Van Beek (President FMJD) for an independent opinion on this. We were informed that the FMJD would never accept any player from any country that was not nominated by their national body and that the WCDF were wrong to do what they did. However, the invitation to Lubabulo Kondlo was sent, he attended the QT, and as we know he won this event.

However, at the following WCDF General Assembly meeting held in Ireland (October 2007) this “loophole” was debated, voted on, and deleted from the WCDF Byelaws taking into consideration the FMJD’s opposition to it. It must be remembered that the WCDF is a recognised sub-section within the FMJD, and through which the WCDF and checkers have been invited to participate in the World Mind Sports Games. In addition it was agreed that we would uphold Byelaw 5.5.5 which decreed that Kondlo would have an automatic entry to the WCDF QT 2009 (for winning the QT 2007). For reasons that are still unknown to me Lubabulo did not attend this.


Let me state clearly that the WCDF are committed to encouraging and supporting checker players from South Africa to attend and compete in future WCDF Qualification Tournaments (QT’s). As it is no longer possible to issue any individual player with a “wild-card” entry, it has been the role of the WCDF to work with, and encourage, the MSSA to do what they can to enable this to happen.

With specific reference to the up-coming Q.T. at San Remo, Italy, during October 2011, the WCDF has had ongoing contact with Colin Webster on behalf of MSSA in discussing this possibility. None of these discussions are about any specific individual, but about a process that must be undertaken in compliance with both the Law and sports regulations. I’m told there would be serious repercussions for the MSSA if they were found to be in breech of these.

This contact has included the exchange of numerous Emails (daily), the issuing of a written invitation to participate, , the offer of a free room for one South African player for 5 nights (the duration of the event) as an incentive and to overcome the issue of cost, and a 60 minute direct telephone conversation between myself and Colin Webster. This process remains ongoing and has produced some results to date.

However, there are issues that have remained problematic to overcome. It is a requirement that funding is secured prior to MSSA announcing any dates for their “trials”. This is for one basic reason – they cannot guarantee who may win such trials (we might look no further than last year’s QT as an example) and thus the MSSA must guarantee the required money to support the person or persons to emerge from that trial. To facilitate this, the MSSA have contacted a range of companies in South Africa seeking sponsorship. These companies include SAMSUNG, COCA COLA, ESQUIRE TECHNOLOGIES, BLACK LABEL, MAKRO, DION, NATIONAL SORGHUM BREWERIES, and SHOPRITE/CHECKERS. These companies are in addition to the following companies who had earlier been contacted and declined - ASUS, DISTILLERS, PEPSI, BOKOMO, MAGEU, and ABSA. Without securing financial support the MSSA cannot name any dates or venue for such “trials”. In view of the dates of the QT 2011 it is a requirement that any such “trials” must be held before the end of August 2011.

As an act of good faith the MSSA have decided that should the MSSA not secure a sponsorship by 10 August 2011, the MSSA will do the following:

1. Issue a note to all members stating that the MSSA has not been able to secure any sponsorship, and
2. Ask for people (who can pay for themselves - or who have got enough sponsorship) to apply to go.

The MSSA will then nominate the players who have responded, on a first-come-first-served basis to enter on the following conditions:

1. That the players so applying have a valid passport
2. That the players make full disclosure of any sponsorship - according to SA's FICA legislation, that is, who is paying, how much, contact details
3. That the players WILL NOT be representing South Africa, but instead have to represent the club to which they are affiliated, ie., Joe Bloggs from King's Club, South Africa

This way, if the MSSA cannot secure sponsorship, the MSSA will still be compliant with SA law.


This is the current and up-to-date situation as it stands with regard to this issue as of today. Please be assured that this issue is being dealt with and that the MSSA and WCDF are working together to secure a South African representative for the QT 2011 within the terms of the regulations and law as it applies in South Africa. While this process remains ongoing I’d personally like to thank the MSSA for the engaging manner in which they have approached this difficult issue to date, and I am convinced that they are honest and sincere in their attempts to overcome this issue.

Sincerely,
Hugh Devlin (President of WCDF)

[Danny_Alvarez]

June 6th 2011
An open letter to Mr. Alan Millhone, President, American Checkers Federation.


Please be assured that this issue is being dealt with and that the MSSA and WCDF are working together to secure a South African representative for the QT 2011 within the terms of the regulations and law as it applies in South Africa. While this process remains ongoing I’d personally like to thank the MSSA for the engaging manner in which they have approached this difficult issue to date, and I am convinced that they are honest and sincere in their attempts to overcome this issue.

Sincerely,
Hugh Devlin (President of WCDF)

By "being dealt with" we mean "neither MSSA or WCDF will do a damn thing until its too late and this poor sod cannot attend" ???
and by "i am convinced they are honest and sincere in their attempts to overcome this issue" you mean "they will cover everything up and hope we shut the hell up."

Bureaucracy and Verbosity do not equate honesty and sincerity, Mr Devlin.
I say this with the utmost respect, but i disagree with this situation and the way it is being handled.

Best Regards
Danny Alvarez

[Palomino]

..

[Hugh Devlin]

Hi Danny, I do respect your opinion even if I believe you are being a bit harsh here. The above reply is designed both to give a background (a context) to the issues inherent and to answer a number of questions that were recently put to me. Let’s not seek out negativity. The agreement and timelines should ensure that we will have at least one representative from SA in Sam Remo, and I’d hope this format might serve as a blueprint for future years to come.

Forgive me if I state the obvious - the game of checkers does not exist within a vacuum. Bureaucracy exists all around us. Did you know that the FMJD Constitution and Byelaws are embedded in Dutch Law? Changes in Dutch Law have resulted in changes to the FMJD byelaws with regards to procedures, financial accounting, etc.

Let me give you a personal example of bureaucracy intertwined with checkers. When I was first invited to a checker tournament in America (ICHF 1987) I was shocked at the process I have to undertake in order to obtain a Visa to attend it. In my innocence I thought this would be easy. After all, I was the reigning Irish Checker Champion and British Open Checker Champion, and I had a personal invitation sent to me highlighting these facts and which also included a full itinerary covering my stay at the ICHF, with contact numbers, etc. Do you think this got me any favours with US immigration? That’s when I first discovered what “red tape” looked like.

First there was the formal application form that wanted to know everything there was to know about me. Then I was asked to supply the American government with the details of my bank accounts in Ireland, and include a current statement clearly showing the balance in those accounts. Then I was ask to get my employers (the Irish state) to furnish them with letters outlining my position with them, the status of that position, confirmation that I had booked vacation time for the duration of my stay in the USA and that they were fully expecting me to return to work on the day my vacation period ended.

I have to say I was greatly shocked and annoyed at the depth of intrusion into my personal life, and the vast amount of confirmatory paperwork they required, which (in my innocence) I considered to be wholly unnecessary. I was certainly made to jump through many many hoops just to play a few games of checkers. Of course I had a choice - I could be sitting playing checkers at the ICHF or I could be sitting playing checkers at home. The US government were not too bothered either way. Let’s give this a chance. Hugh

[Colin Webster]

Out of all the countries that I have visited (UK, USA, New Zealand, Netherlands, Finland, Italy, Greece, Australia, South Korea, and Angola) only two (NewZealand and South Korea) currently do not require South Africans to obtain a visa.

The task obtaining visas for many of the MSSA's teams can be quite frustrating and expensive.

Of course if Danny can come up with a better solution, I would be most interested to know of it. However, it will have to be a solution that is both compliant with South African legislation and the will of the MSSA's membership.

[tommyc]

Well i dont know what to say really, Hugh Devlin bombards us with reams of diplomatic problems in order to muddy the waters it seems in defence of MSSA or Colin Webster and these are the heads of two "sporting bodies"....its a joke really.

Lets cut to the chase i went twice to America to play in the US Open i never encountered any such problems that he refers to re immigration bank accounts or when i might get back to work.

More importantly on a human scale im sure Lubablo doesnt care one hoot if hes not representing S.A. much more important is that hes there to show what a great player he is and and the great leaders of these two draughts show some respect and stop putting obstacles in the way. Its no wonder draughts is how it is with this carrying-on.And mark my words i can guarantee there will be no trials and NO official representives from S.A........and if there is it will be a first as no-one showed up last time.Please explain.?