Spar Superstars NGN 2026

FOR a second year running Aleah Ramouthar was a shining star at the sixth ‘Chinese Bridge’ Chinese Show for Primary School Students competition in Durban.

Last year the Virginia Preparatory School Grade Four learner placed second but this year she placed first meaning she will now represent SA at an international event later this year.

She will travel to the cities of Beijing and Tianjin in China to compete in the international Chinese Bridge competition in September.

The nine-year-old, who only started learning Mandarin last year had to give a speech and sing a song at the competition.

“I feel very happy with my performances. I’ve practised a lot more this year. My prepared speech this year was about my family and their support. I’m very excited about going to China. I’ve never been to the country but my goal is to win but also have fun. The thing I’m most looking forward to is seeing the pandas,” she said.

While she enjoys drama at school and reading her future goal is become an educator.

GRADE 7 learner Caitlyn Manning is proving that dedication, determination and a love for sport can take you a long way.

The Chelsea Preparatory School learner has enjoyed an impressive 2026 season, representing her school in several sporting codes while also making time to contribute to the school’s environmental initiatives.

Caitlyn is the captain of the school’s first team Action (Indoor) Netball side and has also been selected for the KZN U13 A Action Netball team.

She is vice-captain of the school’s first team Outdoor Netball and first team Tennis, while also representing the U13A Hockey team and B Squad Swimming team.

Adding to her sporting achievements, Caitlyn was crowned the Interhouse Cross Country Champion.

The dedicated young sportswoman said she enjoys the challenge that comes with trying new things and pushing herself to improve.“I love sport and I enjoy challenging myself. Every new experience is an opportunity to learn something new, grow and become better,” she said.

While Caitlyn enjoys all her sporting activities, hockey is particularly close to her heart.

Away from the sporting field, Caitlyn is also passionate about the environment and is a member of Chelsea Preparatory School’s Environment Service Team.

When she is not busy with school, sport or environmental projects, Caitlyn enjoys spending time with family and friends. She is also a devoted animal lover, with a particular soft spot for dogs and her beloved white Labrador, Sky.

IN a short space of time, Northlands Primary School learner, Peyton Leggett has achieved so much.

The 11-year-old, a member of the A team swimming squad, has taken part in both the Midmar Mile (twice, first swimming it at age 9) as well as the Capital K.

She is also a member of Crusaders Hockey Club and the school A hockey squad.

In terms of school sports, she does swimming, netball, road running and cross country where she excels at the 800m.

Despite this jam-packed sporting schedule, she remains an excellent academic student, remaining in the top 5 of her class.

The Grade Five learner also swam to raise funds for the Childhood Cancer Foundation South Africa (CHOC) at both her Midmar Mile races, raising over R10 000.

If that wasn’t enough, Peyton is also a member of the Northlands Smooth Sailors Lego League team that recently returned from South Korea where the team represented SA.

The team placed second in the Core Values category at the FIRST LEGO League International Tournament in South Korea.

“We did really well, I’m very proud of myself and the team. In Core Values, the judges look at a number of aspects including professionalism and helping other teams. We also did well in robot design and innovation.

“I took an interest in robotics from Grade Three. I was in the first Northlands junior FIRST LEGO team. I love learning and building new things but also meeting new people. My biggest interests I would say is in coding and robotics,” she said.

Outside of school, Peyton also enjoys playing the piano.

Her biggest supporters are her mom and dad.

GRADE 6 learner Sanchez Ramnarain is celebrating an exciting sporting achievement after being selected for the North Durban U12 Invitational Team.

The young sportsman will represent the team at the KZNIPSSA Ian Macleod Tournament, which took place from July 11 to 12 at Kearsney College.

Sanchez’s selection is a proud achievement and recognises his dedication, commitment and talent on the sporting field.

“I was very excited and honoured. It was a proud moment and showed me that my hard work has paid off. It motivates me to keep improving. Being selected means a lot to me, and it motivates me to keep working hard and improving my game”

The tournament also provided Sanchez with an opportunity to develop his skills, learn from the experience and enjoy being part of a team.

“I enjoyed competing at a high level, testing myself against strong players and learning from the experience. It was a great opportunity to test myself against some of the best players in the province and I learned from the experience. I also got to see how my abilities and used the tournament to help me improve and grow as a player.”

“My parents have always supported and encouraged me. My previous selections for the Durban & District Futsal Team and representing STR247 at provincial level have helped me work towards bigger dreams in the sport.”

WATER sports is where Northwood School learner Matt Canning shines.

Not only is he involved in water polo and swimming but also surfing.

It would then stand to reason that Matt would excel in one of the forms of water sports, in this case surfing.

He recently placed second in the O’Neill SMTH Shapes Rookie Rippers U18 division, the curtain-raiser to the annual Ballito Pro Festival.

He also captained his school’s surfing team for a second year in a row to the KZN Schools Surfing League Champs title.

What is more the 17-year-old has also been selected to represent SA at the ISA World Junior Surfing Championships in El Salvador in September.

Speaking about the upcoming world champs, Matt explained his game plan is to make it to the quarter-finals.

He will be among 400 of the world’s best junior surfers from more than 40 nations and celebrates his birthday in the same month as the competition.

“It is a huge honour for me to represent my country and family. I’ve represented the SA Junior Team twice before and my best placing was Round 3. My goal this year would be to make the quarter-finals. Surfing is an unpredictable sport and while luck does play a part, your preparation also counts and my goal is to do the best I can in South America,” he said.

DANVILLE Park Girls’ High School learner Mikayla Morrison has enjoyed an extraordinary year of sporting success.

She is currently in Croatia where she is representing the SA U16 Water Polo Team at the World Aquatics Water Polo U16 Championship.

The Grade 10 learner has been chosen as the vice-captain of the team. The talented 16-year-old has also been selected to represent the SA Schools Netball (SASN) U16 team as well as the SA action netball squad.

At school she is involved in netball (indoor and outdoor), swimming and the school’s water polo team where she plays fetch and link.

Speaking on her recent SA selection, Mikayla said she was proud to represent her country.

“It is an amazing feeling. I have had to put in a lot of effort to make the national team but I’m so proud. I made the SA U15 water polo team last year where we played Zimbabwe away. I know this is going to be much tougher because we are facing more countries including Russia and Italy. It is a bit nerve-racking but I’m looking forward to the challenge ahead. Win or lose we want to give it all with our efforts and show as a team we can play well,” she said. Mikayla has consistently made KwaZulu-Natal teams since the age of 12.

WHEN it comes to creative writing, poetry, public speaking and debating you’re sure to find Northlands Girls’ High School Grade 11 learner Okwethu Hlongwane.

She recently entered the South African Literacy Association (SALA) Public Speaking competition in the prepared reading category.

Okwethu made it to the semi-finals and will be competing on a provincial level in August.

“I’ve always loved creative writing, public speaking and debating. They have all helped develop me into the young woman I am today. I used to be very shy before but through these activities I’ve been gaining more confidence. I didn’t know it would lead me this far.

“It’s been an amazing journey. I also feel debating and public speaking in particular have made me more of a critical thinker. My goal for the upcoming semi-finals is to make it to the finals,” she said.

Okwethu added she is the first person in the history of her school to receive creative writing scrolls on her blazer. The 16-year-old is also a member of the school’s Enviro Monitors Club and is a library monitor.

Outside of school, Okwethu crochets for fun and has a small business selling her crocheted creations.

She is also the author of two books, Healing: I Choose Myself and Loving You.