Spar Superstars HWM 2026

LEANDRO Goncalves has been named Westville Senior Primary School’s SPAR Star of the Month.
The Grade Seven learner’s sporting journey began at the age of three when he was enrolled at a private soccer club which ran a programme that introduces young children to the fundamentals of soccer.
He later attended a sports academy where he was exposed to a variety of sporting codes, helping him develop into a versatile athlete.
At the age of seven, he joined Westville Old Boys’ (WOB) Club, where he continued to develop his skills and passion for the game. His sporting interests soon expanded to rugby and hockey, representing Westville Junior Primary in both sports while also playing club rugby for WOB.
For many years, soccer was Leandro’s favourite sport, and he drew inspiration from Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo. More recently, rugby has become equally important to him, with Springbok flyhalf Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu now his sporting role model.
According to Hayden Adamson, rugby coach at Westville Senior Primary, Leandro has represented the school’s 1st rugby team for the past two years, playing at both fullback and flyhalf. He has earned 47 caps and currently serves as the team’s backline captain.
His achievements extend beyond school rugby. In 2025, he was selected for the PADSSA U12A and KZN U12B teams, and in 2026 he represented the PADSSA U13A side at flyhalf.
Adamson describes Leandro as an exceptional player with excellent vision, speed and agility. His quick footwork and ability to identify gaps in the defence make him a constant attacking threat.
Leandro’s sporting excellence was recognised at the school’s 2025 Sport and Culture Prize-Giving, where he received the Football Player of the Year and Sevens Player of the Year awards.
He is also a respected leader among his peers, having been elected House Captain and Swimming Captain for 2026. Away from school and club commitments, Leandro enjoys wakeboarding, action soccer and padel.

HIGHWAY College’s SPAR Star of the Month is Khethelo Mkhulise.
The Grade Seven learner took part in a Road Safety Competition hosted by eThekwini Transport Authority and South African Road Federation.
More than 70 schools participated this year and Khethelo entered Category 2 where she wrote an essay about Road Safety.
The competition was held at the Durban ICC. Khethelo received a certificate of participation at the awards.
The participants were spoilt with breakfast and lunch. The competition provided learners with a valuable opportunity to learn, share ideas and promote safe behaviour on the roads.
Khethelo said the event was both educational and enjoyable, giving them the chance to express their creativity and speak out about the importance of road safety.

OWETHU Ndlovu is Benjamin Pine Primary School’s SPAR Star of the Month. The Grade Seven learner has been a shining star on the sports field. In 2026 he has represented KZNIPSSA U13A Soccer at The Bill Stewart Tournament, and KZN U12A Hockey where Owethu and his teammates placed first in South Africa.
Over and above these achievements, Owethu also plays first team cricket, he is part of the school swimming team and he is his age group champion in athletics.
“Owethu is only 12 years old and his determination and dedication to the sports field is admirable, he has a bright future ahead of him,” said the school.

WATERFALL College’s SPAR Star of the Month is Skaila Horn. The Grade 11 learner is set to represent the national polocrosse team in the U19 Development Tour against the USA from July 31 to August 2.
Skaila’s polocrosse journey began after five years of horse riding and she has been playing the sport for two years. Being selected for the national squad came as a surprise – she couldn’t believe it was her name being called out.
“Hearing my name called out – that’s a moment I’ll never forget.”
On the field, Skaila’s favourite position is Number 1, the scorer. Off the field, her biggest support system is her mom and dad, along with her close friend Leah, who also serves as her groomer.
For Skaila, the toughest part of the sport isn’t the game itself but the preparation behind it – making sure her horse is well groomed and, just as importantly, in the right temperament to perform on match day.
“We are so proud of you, Skaila. You are, indeed, a superstar!” said the school.

ELLA Rose is Westville Girls’ High School’s SPAR Star of the Month. She came in the top 10 of this year’s English Olympiad.
The Grade 11 learner received a Diamond award (90% and above), which is an achievement that less than 1% of candidates that wrote managed to achieve.
“A Gold award is 80-89%, and the majority of our Top 100 candidates achieved a Gold, while the Top 17 are Diamond award achievers. One FAL candidate achieved a Diamond award in the FAL exam,” said the school’s marketing manager Sesethu Senene.
According to Senene, 5021 candidates entered the Olympiad while 3932 wrote.
Eighteen candidates received Diamond awards and 246 were awarded Gold.

STAR College Girls High’s Lethokuhle Zondi is the school’s SPAR Star of the Month.
The Grade Nine learner has been chosen for her outstanding personal achievements and exemplary character.
Marketing manager Sarah Hayden said Lethokuhle distinguished herself through her impressive participation in sporting activities.
She is an active member of the school’s netball and volleyball teams and her dedication to excellence on the court earned her KZN colours, a recognition awarded to top athletes in KZN.
In addition to her sporting prowess, Lethokuhle is an enthusiastic participant in her school’s academic competitions, particularly the Olympiads. She regularly takes part in the various Olympiad challenges offered by the school.
“She serves as the class captain, where her peers look up to her as a responsible and respectful young leader. She demonstrates maturity in her interactions with staff and classmates alike, consistently showing reliability and a hardworking attitude. Her respectful demeanor and sense of responsibility make her a role model within the school community,” said Hayden.

Mahir Somera is the Star College Boys’ High School SPAR Star of the Month.
The school said Mahir demonstrated exceptional academic prowess, securing the top position in Grade and FET for Term 1 in Grade 10.
“Over the past two years, he has also been the top student in GET for Grades Eight and Nine, showcasing consistent excellence and commitment to his studies,” said the school’s marketing manager, Sara Hayden.
Beyond academics, Mahir has distinguished himself in debating, being announced as the Best Speaker in five debates this year.
In addition, Mahir participated in the Eskom Expo ISF, where he triumphed in the Biomedical and Medical Sciences category, demonstrating his scientific curiosity and innovation. His versatility extends to language arts, having participated in the Turkish Competition in late 2025, where he performed a Turkish Poem and secured third place in the Poetry Category.
Mahir’s pursuit of excellence continues in various Olympiads, including the Proverto Accounting, Business Studies, and Economics Olympiads, as well as the History and Geography Olympiads. He also competed in the Wits Mathematics Olympiad this year.
Not only is Mahir a dedicated scholar and debater, Hayden said the learner is also an active member of the school’s media club, contributing as a journalist to school publications.
He also assists at his local temple with event preparation, public speaking, and tabla playing.

THIS month’s Thomas More College SPAR Superstar nominee is Makayla Ojo.
The school said it is “incredibly proud” of Makayla for being selected to represent SA at the World Aquatics Women’s U16 Water Polo Championships.
“This is a remarkable achievement and a reflection of their hard work, discipline, and commitment to excellence in the sport. Makayla Ojo has been selected as part of the South African U16 team.”

THIS month’s Hillcrest High School Highway Mail SPAR Superstar nominee is Grade Eight learner, Angel Machadu. Angel, who has set her sights on becoming a world-class professional runner, participated in the 2026 KZNCSSA (KZN Christian Schools Sports Association) Provincial Cross Country Championships.
The event on June 20 at the Domino Servite School in Kranskop served as the regional qualifier for the SACSSA National Championships. Angel competed in the U14, U15, U16, U17, U19 age group categories for the 4km race and came seventh overall, placing third in her age group category.
She was selected to participate in the SACSSA National Championships in the Free State on August 1.
Vote for Angel!