Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Programming note: Beyond Borders on ESPN profiles two African-born athletes who made it in America.


Beyond Borders, a great sport documentary is coming viewers' way this Sunday on ESPN (DStv 230) at 19:30 that is specifically produced for ESPN viewers in Africa.

In Beyond Borders - From Sudan to the NBA and from Uganda to the NFL chronicles the remarkable stories of Luol Deng from Sudan who played in the NBA (now the star player for Team Great Britain) and Mathias Kiwanuka (pictured) from Uganda playing for the NFL in America.

Luol Deng and his family fled Sudan in the late 1980's to escape the civil war. Now the star player for Team Great Britain as London gears up for the 2012 Olympics, Luol Deng has recently re-established ties with his native Sudan. Mathias Kiwanuka of the NFL's New York Giants is actually the grandson of Uganda's first prime minister who was brutally tortured and then assassinated more than 10 years before Mathias was born.

The documentary profiles these two African-born athletes who are playing in professional American sports leagues and their inspirational off-the-field stories.