[imagesource:dailymaverick]

Boy, the kids of today sure do have strange taste when it comes to idolising sports personalities.

Let me explain: the 2018 Sunday Times Generation Next youth survey announced the top performing brands at the Sunday Times Generation Next Awards that took place in Sandton last Thursday, June 14.

How the survey works, explains The Citizen, is that it sees The Sunday Times collaborating with youth marketing specialists from HDI Youth Marketeers to poll more than 12 000 youths from across South Africa in over 70 categories.

So far, so good.

This year’s survey had 7 019 respondents from ages 8 to 24, and they revealed who they thought was the trendiest and most inspirational in an array of categories.

However, when it comes to who they thought was the coolest sportspeople in South Africa, their choices are a bit … questionable, to say the least.

Especially considering who cracked this top 10 list:

Fallen star Oscar Pistorius ranked number eight on the list, a spot that was occupied by cricket legend Hashim Amla last year.

Yes, we are talking about the same Oscar Pistorius who murdered his girlfriend back in 2013. Remember when that happened?

Clearly, the youngsters don’t seem to recall it.

It’s puzzling why the guy even made the list in the first place, considering he’s a convicted killer and all.

Whether this is placement is because of, or in spite of, Pistorius’ murder conviction is unclear at this point.

Hey, at least the other people who made the list can back up their coolness factor.

Take a look who cracked the category, according to Bizcommunity:

10. Benni McCarthy (soccer)

9. Kagiso Rabada (cricket)

We’ll pretend that number eight doesn’t exist on this list.

7. Percy Tau (soccer)

6. Chad Le Clos (swimming)

5. Caster Semenya (running)

4. Itumuleng Khune (soccer)

3. AB de Villiers (cricket)

2. Wayde Van Niekerk (running)

1. Siphiwe Tshabalala (soccer)

Ah, that’s better.

Give these wonderful athletes a round of applause for being the coolest people that our youngsters need.

Except Pistorius.

Youngsters and their odd choices.

[sources:citizen&bizcommunity]