Ntini top favourite of teens: survey

South Africa's swashbuckling paceman Makhaya Ntini is voted as the country's most popular sportsperson among young fans.

Updated on: Nov 18, 2006, 18:21:00 IST

None | By Anonymous, Durban

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South Africa's maverick fast bowler Makhaya Ntini has been voted as the country's most popular sportsperson among fans aged between 13 and 18.

According to the 2006 BMI Junior Sporttrack survey, Ntini has moved up from 3rd place in 2005 to hold the top spot ahead of teammate Shaun Pollock and the country's top soccer stars, Jabu Mahlangu, Benny McCarthy, and Lucas Radebe.

Ntini is notably the first non-soccer player to hold the number one position, which he similarly achieved in the 2005 BMI Adult Sporttrack survey.

Pollock moves up from 9th position in 2005 to 5th and is the only sportsperson to be voted in the top 10 across all race groups.

Ntini, together with Ryk Neethling and Benny McCarthy are the only sportspersons to feature in the Top 20 across all races.

Cricket remains as the second most popular sport after soccer among junior spectators, followed by rugby and athletics.

Cricket is the only sport to feature in the Top 3 most popular sports across all race groups.

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