Road to Glory Series

'AB hopped over the boundary rope and onto the field, grinning at the sight and sound of a packed Wanderers Stadium. He swung his bat from side to side and listened to the crowd roaring his name.' So begins the wonderfully entertaining story of the rise to fame of one of South Africa's favourite sporting stars. Written specifically for youngsters aged 10 –14, it takes the reader close to all the action, and the ups and downs. AB was already building a name as a great schoolboy tennis and rugby player, but when he decided to focus on cricket the word spread quickly about a talent that could not be contained. With two brothers a lot older than him, AB learned early how to play hard and never give up. In this inspiring story we watch as AB progresses through high school, then 'varsity, and learns how to play against the best. In his first Test series, AB struggles and wonders if he's good enough to make it at this level. However, the outcome is an inspiration to sports fans and readers who love a good story.

This is a moving story of the rise to fame from humble beginnings of one of South Africa's most popular rugby stars, written specifically for young readers. Early on in his life, Siya discovered that rugby could be his route out of the grinding poverty in which he had grown up in the Eastern Cape. He worked hard, made sure he was noticed and managed to secure a scholarship to the prestigious Grey High School. But he had to adapt quickly to a world he had never encountered, while keeping his roots in the community that he knew and loved. His hard work and natural ability saw him moving to Cape Town to join the Stormers, trying to break into the Springbok team, and learning to adjust to life at the top of the game that is a national obsession. Siya Kolisi is part of the 'Road to Glory' series, which covers some of South Africa's sporting legends as they set out on their journeys to becoming national and international stars.

Wayde was quick off the mark from the day he was born: two months premature and weighing no more than a litre of milk, his life was in danger. But little Wayde survived and grew to become the world's leading sprinter. Wayde van Niekerk tells the extraordinary tale of a boy who defied the odds, time and again. He was small and skinny, but he tackled big rivals on the rugby field. And just when he was about to become a world sprinting star, Wayde suffered a series of terrible hamstring injuries. At one point, he was so depressed he almost gave up athletics for good. But his faith, courage and dedication – along with his magnificent talent – kept him going. We learn that Wayde was deeply motivated by his mother Odessa's brilliance as a sprinter before his birth – back in the apartheid era when black athletes were unable to shine on the biggest stage. Wayde's sense of honour also shines through in the story: how he stands up for the weak against bullies, and gives generously to those less fortunate than himself. In the climax of the book, Wayde flies his family to the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, where his greatest moment awaits him.

In the fifth book of the Road to Glory series, Jeremy Daniel shows us how Caster Semenya developed into a world-class athlete. Growing up in poverty in Limpopo, Caster's early experiences at school are marked by many ups and downs: while her friends and family accept her for who she is, she is constantly bullied for her appearance. But she discovers soccer and immerses herself in the game – even making the boys' team. It is only after she enrols at the University of Pretoria that her life changes completely. Away from village life, she impresses on the track and is noticed as a talent, eventually meeting Coach Daniels in whom she finds a trainer and mentor. Battling controversy over her gender on the track and in the media, she nevertheless goes on to win gold at the 2016 Olympics, becoming an ambassador for South Africa.

Percy Tau grew up with seven siblings and a single mom in the mining town of Witbank. For Percy and his family, life is tough as their mother struggles to make ends meet. But there is one thing that brings the Tau boys together: soccer. At the Mmagobana Primary School, they quickly make a name for themselves on the soccer team. Despite the boys' enthusiasm for the game, Percy's mom is against him playing soccer. She wants him to get a 'real job' – after all, she doesn't want to see her son struggle in life. But Percy persists, and is invited to join the Sundowns Youth Academy. Here he meets Pitso Mosimane, the Sundowns coach who will teach him all about what it takes to become a professional footballer. In March 2017 Percy's life changes forever: he is called up to play for Bafana Bafana and is named as the leading goal-scorer of the season. But just when all is going so well … heartbreak: Percy's brother is killed in a car crash. Old fears from his childhood come rushing back as his mother blames their misfortune on soccer. But, through it all, the family pull together in their support for one another. Then, one day, a call comes: Percy is offered a position to play for Brighton – one of the biggest deals ever offered a South African footballer. What will the future hold for one of the brightest stars in South African soccer? Join us on this action-packed adventure in the Road to Glory series.

'Chad took a deep breath. He pulled on his goggles, pushed them up onto his forehead and slipped on his swimming cap. It was time for the men's 200 meter butterfly final at the London Olympics of 2012. This was the moment he had been dreaming about for over a decade.' This is the story of Chad le Clos, Olympic gold medallist and record breaker, the swimmer with the never-say-die attitude. It all started on a beach in Durban: every Sunday, Bert and Geraldine le Clos would take their family to the seaside to spend a lazy afternoon at the beach. They soon realised that there was something special about their son: Chad, only eight years old, was a natural in the water. They couldn't take their eyes off him as he kicked his little legs and fought off the giant waves that came crashing down. Soon enough, Chad joined the swimming team and started breaking all the records in his age group. With his dedicated coach and supportive father, Chad spent hours honing his skills in the local swimming pool, which eventually led him to compete in the 2012 Olympics, where he broke a world record and beat his long-time rival, Michael Phelps. Unbelievable! Despite his strict training program and learning how to live a healthy, balanced life, there was still one more important lesson Chad needed to learn: how to trust his feelings, follow his heart, and stay true to himself. With the support of his family, coach, friends and fans all over the world, he knew he had what it takes to make it all the way to the top.

Sport is all about thrilling moments. It takes just a few seconds of inspiration and talent to change the course of sporting history. A kick, a pass, a burst of speed and courage in the right place at the right time — that's what separates winners from losers. Great athletes spend their whole careers preparing for when a career highlight might happen. Nobody can predict them. But, once in a while during a match, out on the track or in the pool, all the elements line up perfectly. In Thrilling Sporting Moments you'll read about some of the most exciting moments in our sporting history. Featuring: Lungi Ngidi, Quinton de Kock, Akani Simbine, Faf de Klerk, Ernst van Dyk, Luvo Manyonga, Kevin Anderson, Cheslin Kolbe, Chad le Clos, Percy Tau, Louis Oosthuizen, Lucas Radebe, Josia Thugwane, Bongiwe Msomi, Caster Semenya, Janine van Wyk, Sunette Viljoen, Tatjana Schoenmaker.