SA still hates Hansie

Johannesburg - Former Proteas captain Hansie Cronje and former Springbok rugby player Luke Watson are among the top ten hated sports people in South Africa.

Kevin Pietersen, a South African who plays cricket for England, also made the list.

This was evident from a survey that SA Sports Illustrated (SI) conducted among its readers.
 
The list of the top ten is published in no particular order and also includes former All Blacks captain Sean Fitzpatrick, former Wallabies scrumhalf George Gregan, and Australian Shane Warne, once the top spinner in the world.

Cronje broke countless hearts

SI said Cronje had "broken countless hearts and disappointed a multitude of people" when it was revealed that he was involved in match-fixing.

As far as Watson is concerned, SI said his use of the words "Springbok jersey" and "vomit" in one sentence gave him the nickname "Puke Watson".

Pietersen is on the list because, according to readers, he bad-mouthed South Africa after his move to England "and no one can digest his enormous ego".

Another athlete for whom there is little love in South Africa is Clyde Rathbone, former captain of the South African u-21 team who moved to Australia.
 
Sergio Motsoeneng, who cheated in the 1999 Comrades Marathon by running the race in a "relay team" with his twin brother, also made the list along with Stuart Dickinson, the Australian rugby referee, and Floyd Mayweather Jr, the American boxer.