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Ntini champion of the people
28/11/2007 15:36 - (SA)
Johannesburg - Makhaya Ntini remains the undisputed champion of the people after he was voted South Africa's most popular sportsman for 2007.
In the only truly scientific poll undertaken by BMI Sport Info, Ntini emerged at the top of the list, ahead of Bafana Bafana and Blackburn Rovers striker Benni McCarthy and world Cup-winning Springbok wing Bryan Habana.
Habana became the first black person to be voted the country's most popular sportsman by the white community, but this was not enough to oust the charismatic Ntini.
The disabled community can be extremely proud of Natalie du Toit's achievement. The Paralympic legend is the only female athlete on the list of South Africa's top 20 most popular sportsmen and women.
The 2007 top 20 includes ten soccer players, five cricketers, three rugby players and two swimmers.
One of the more interesting names among the most popular rugby players is Blue Bulls flyhalf Derek Hougaard. The 24-year-old was voted eighth among rugby players, making him the only player not at the 2007 Rugby World Cup to be in the top 15.
Springbok captain John Smit and Proteas skipper Graeme Smith also made significant moves up the popularity lists. In previous years both had been way down in the popularity stakes.
What emerged from this poll is the dearth of popular women sports heroines.
Besides Du Toit, there were no other sportswomen near the top 20. In years gone by names like Amanda Coetzer, Hestrie Cloete and Penny Heyns were high on the list.
This poll is conducted annually by BMI Sport Info as part of their continuous research into sport, demographics and sponsorship evaluation programmes.
- SAPA
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