Rugby Stars Share Success Stories on African Voices

In continuation of its focus on African change makers who are making positive impacts in different areas of life, African Voices on CNN International will this weekend showcase two rugby players and their impactful lives on and off the pitch.

The 30-minute programme sponsored by Globacom, will feature Tendai Mtawarira, Zimbabwean-born former rugby player resident in South Africa, and Kenyan Humphrey Kayange, also a former player.

Mtawarira, 35, began donning the South African colours in 2008. He gained 117 caps to become the most capped prop in South African history and the third most capped Springbok of all time. He had the most Super Rugby caps by a South African with 160 caps and was also a 2019 Rugby World Cup winner.

Nicknamed ‘Beast’ during his career, Mtawarira, upon retirement in 2020, established The Beast Foundation through which he builds a community of enthusiastic young people who aspire to find their feet in sports and education.

His counterpart, Kayange, was born in 1982. He bagged a degree in Organic Chemistry from Jomo Kenyatta University, Juja, Kenya, before venturing into rugby. He was in the Kenyan squad at the Rugby World Cup Sevens which reached the semifinals of the game, and in 2009 was nominated for the International Rugby Board Sevens Player of The Year.

The ardent player was awarded the Kenyan Presidential Order of Golden Warriors (OGW) in the 2008/2009 IRB world series alongside his brother who is equally an accomplished rugby player.

He runs the Atlas Foundation which is a platform for mentoring and advocating for Kenyan athletes and young sports prospects in his country.

Both remarkable rugby greats will be on CNN on DSTV Channel 401 on Saturday at 9.30 a.m., while repeats of the programme will be shown on Sunday at 4.30 a.m., 7.30 a.m., 12.30 p.m., 7.30 p.m. and on Monday at 5.30 a.m.