By Sam Phiri –

SA Idols is becoming hotter with competition for the top 10 list slot getting stiffer and not easy for the judges too.
It is not a matter of Randall, Unati or Gareth to decide who goes this time around but the massive audience and fans watching across Africa.
Last Sunday the first group of eight comprising Bongiwe, Celine, Marandi, London, Vincent V, Vincent B Chante and Ivan took to the stage to show Africa why the deserve to be the next Idol.
It was a battle of the finest as every contestant put in his or her best to try and win votes from their fans.
The judges had their interesting opinions on the contestants though that might also have an influence on the voting audience.
One interesting contestant is Bongiwe who according to Gareth, proved to the world that persistence pays off.
Bongiwe failed the first audition in Pretoria as the judges told her that she had a very good voice but chose a wrong song.
The ambitious chubby girl did not want to give up but follow the crew to Cape Town to audition for the second time before getting it right with the right song!
Another interesting hopeful and perhaps the much loved is Vincent B whose presence on stage just sends the audience into a frenzy.
This time though he was not at his best but based on his previous convincing performances, the audience had a reason to even give him a standing ovation.
Talking of real stage presence and character, Celine is just one of those who is certainly up to proving to the world that she was born a star, dispelling all accessions that she is was a failure as told by one of her high school teachers before she dropped out.
Even the toughest judge Randall agrees as he passed his comment saying: “Celine, you really deserve to be here.”
The previous week Gareth told Celine to face the camera and tell off all the people who never believed in her that she was a star in making.
Watch out for the second group this Sunday on Mzansi DStv Channel 161 though possibilities of fighting for the remote will be very much high.