Three trendsetting athletes feature on Glo-sponsored CNN African voices

Kenyan entrepreneur who dropped her legal practice to bring the possibility of high tech fitness to Nairobi’s residents and two other outstanding athletes will, this week, be guests of African Voices, a Cable News Network (CNN) magazine programme sponsored by telecommunications giant, Globacom.

Globacom said in a statement issued in Lagos that it was proud of the achievements of the young Africans who have mentored thousands of youths in their chosen professions.

Saloni Kantaria’s inspiring story gingered her country to embrace the culture of physical fitness as a way of stimulating the development of its human capital. Tshepo Nkhabu, a cyclist from Lesotho, and Mitu Monteiro, a surfer from Cape Verde, will join her on the programme. Kantaria’s amazing story is that of how one woman, through courage, strength and convictions, seeks to improve the health of families in her native Kenya. A former competitive tennis player and studio instructor, she quit her flourishing legal practice to found “Reform Cycling and Strength Studio”, the first indoor boutique cycling and fitness studio in Nairobi.

Tshepo Nkhabu brought together young school students who had no after-school recreational centre in his local Mafeteng community to grow, learn, and develop their leadership skills when he was just 16 under the umbrella of a cycling organisation called “Hands of Life”. He believes that “giving is the mother of all successes.” The organization has given youths a hand to express their talents and leadership skills under a conducive atmosphere.

This passion to impact teenagers like himself from an early age culminated in the life-changing impact of the organisation on youths which has encouraged the United States Peace Corps to collaborate with him to employ cycling and camping to the teaching of essential life skills and HIV prevention in a country with the world’s second highest prevalence of HIV.

Born Oteniel Jorge Monteiro, Mitu is a professional kite surfer who pioneered strapless surfing because he did not have enough funds to afford straps. Mitu is reputed for surfing one of the most legendary waves in the world named Teapuhoo in Tahiti, the largest island in French Polynesia in the South Pacific archipelago. He has, through the sport, launched his community on the world map.