Makhaya top of the Pops

Proteas fast bowling icon Makhaya Ntini has retained his position as the most popular South African sporting personality among junior fans.

The 2007 BMI Junior Sporttrack Survey results - an annual survey among sports spectators in the 13-18 age group - were released this week.

The next most popular South African sports stars among junior fans are soccer players Benni McCarthy and Benedict Vilakazi.

Ntini has also been the most popular sports star on the BMI adult survey for the last two years. The 2007 edition of the adult survey will be published next month.

The junior survey, the 12th to be held since it started in 1997, has confirmed cricket’s position as the second most popular sport among teenage fans with 2.8 million spectators compared with the 3.5 million for soccer.