As unfit as I am, yesterday I found myself in the midst of those people who take their body fitness seriously.
Yes, the ones that spend hours and hours at the gym inflicting pain on their bodies.
Exactly the ones that will tell you that they are trying to shed off either fat or preparing for a tournament by torturing each and every muscle in their bodies.
Yep, I was among those bunch of health fanatics from Ultimate MMA Fitness in Kyalami on main. Soon after I had enjoyed my amagwinya with a slice of palony, snoek fish and atchaar.
While they were busy squatting and doing all those painful exercises under the instruction of a friend and former EFC bantamweight champion Demarte Pena, I wasn't bothered at all.
Pena,29 is the undefeated multiple division champion who also goes by the ring name, The Wolf but to me it ends there shame. I'm still ok with loosing weight through fasting... Lets just say, I enjoy spiritual pain than a physical pain and God knows why.
But this young father was excited as I was with the launch of his own brand, Demarte Pena which produced among other things, genuine leather boxing gloves that goes with a price tag of R1500, MMA Sparring Gloves for R650, Shin Pads that are selling at R950 and hand wraps that will cost you R250.
I was rather proud as how this fella was making a lemon juice out of the lemons life throws at him.
The World Anti-Doping Agency( WADA) has placed a four year ban on him last year.
"Soon after the ban I opened up the gym. It caters for everyone living in Kyalami and surrounding areas. I also train fighters for competitions," he said.
Pena originally from Angola but based in Johannesburg was alleged to have used banned substance in a fight between him and Irshaad Sayed. Though he managed to convince the South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport (SAIDS) that he didn't intentionally dope instead the substance was traced back to the approved athletes supplements he was using.
That decision was appealed by WADA but he lost due to other things lack of finances of hiring international experts as a result, he lost the case.
"Yes it was not easy at first to accept but I've learnt to live with it. To be quite honest I enjoy being at home with my family now. When I was competing I didn't have time for them. I was always irritated even by small things. But this whole experience has taught me to enjoy life," he said.
His gym operate weekdays and Saturday while you can purchase any of his items either at the gym or online shop www.demartepena.com
Please read the original story I did on him while working for the Sunday Times two years ago.
This mixed martial arts featherweight champion was once labeled as the best Extreme Fighting Champion in Africa.
"I'm not totally out of the scene as I still do commentary every now and then. I've been fighting for nine years and not sure if I will have the same energy when the four year period is over. But I'm pushing my brand while waiting," he said.
Please note the first pic was taken from his online profile.
Go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0wwBanYnKs4 to see his gym
Please like and share the story. You can also follow me on Twitter @ndabenik, facebook: Khanyiswa Ndabeni and Instagram: Khanyiswa2. My youtube Channel is Khanyi Ndabeni
https://www.timeslive.co.za/sunday-times/sport/2017-07-08-fighter-faces-tough-bout-against-supplement-maker/
They are probably one of the many unsung heroes of the black community.
But for decades now, twin brothers -Thabo and Mpho Putu- had been grooming and supporting many gifted children from the previously disadvantage communities to excel and and make a impact on others.
Their aim, is to see these kids grow up to become leaders in various fields including art, politics, sports and other areas that will later benefit South Africa.
Through their early 90s programme, Gifted Child Development Programme (GCP) they have produced the likes of Kwaito kingpin Kabelo Mabelane who became one of the members of music group TKZee, SABC3 Isidingo's new director and actor Motlatsi Mafatshe and the current Democratic Alliance (DA) leader, Mmusi Maimane.
It is no surprise that in some households they are called deputy fathers as they provide the father figure and guidance to many youth especially those from single parenting homes.
I too have felt their extended fatherly love in the 90s.
When the South African government opened white schools to accommodate black students, these two brothers went all out raising funds that saw me become part of the first black students at Rand Girls High in Braamfontein, Johannesburg.
It did not end there, together with teacher friends, Humphrey Mogale, Paul Dlamini and Ben Setlhatlhole volunteered to teach us English, mathematics, science at PACE High School in Soweto.
An exercise that was suppose to prepare us for Model C schools.
In those days some of us had never had a chance of being in the same room with white children nor did we know how a science laboratory looked like.
While the five days camps at Rocky Valley and Stoney Ridge was a nice holiday away from home but also had spiritual and educational programmes to boast our confidence and believe in our dreams.
Our 1993 educational trip to the SABC Auckland Park where we met and interacted with the much love newsreader then, Noxolo Grootboom sparked an interest in me of gathering news.
I listened with interest as she told us that she started as a receptionist and later groomed for news.
Not knowing later in my life I will become a print journalist for a community, regional and national newspaper with five awards (national and provincial) to my name.
"We strongly believe in prevention," said Mpho as we set down for coffee at Seatlle in Rosebank.
"Better give the child everything they need so they do not end up doing crime. Make them believe that everything is possible and they can be anything they want to be. Ours is to give them that kick start".
Both are teachers by profession but also run their own community church, Orlando Baptist church and Mondoer Baptist Church.
Both churches have youth ministry every Friday.
They still advocate and lobby for exchange programmes and have traveled to countries like America, Ethiopia and all over the world.
Just recently, they were able to facilitate for more than 800 students who wouldn't have had the opportunity of studying at a tertiary institution.
"For us this has been our life purpose and calling. Hence we've never stopped and instead we continuing with the work and growing in all areas that we have served," said Thabo.
They have a collection of MBAs, degrees and masters.
You can imagine the embarrassment I felt when I had to tell them, I'm still trying to complete my law degree at Unisa,i didnt even reveal I was hustling for a TV job over and above the journalism and creative writing qualifications on my belt.
I mean, as one of the loud mouth playful student.
I did feel a bit embarrassed by the little effort I had put on my education. But felt a light burden been lifted off as they encouraged me in all the projects I'm currently doing.
I met the brothers at Teen Out Reach Christian Club. At the time, my father had just returned from exile with nothing and they were helping him to rebuild his life. The club was formed in the 1970s and is one of the living legacies of Rev Frank Chikane and Pedro Raboroko.It was formed to continue the work Steve Bantu Biko's black consciousness movement.
Yes, the ones that spend hours and hours at the gym inflicting pain on their bodies.
Exactly the ones that will tell you that they are trying to shed off either fat or preparing for a tournament by torturing each and every muscle in their bodies.
Yep, I was among those bunch of health fanatics from Ultimate MMA Fitness in Kyalami on main. Soon after I had enjoyed my amagwinya with a slice of palony, snoek fish and atchaar.
While they were busy squatting and doing all those painful exercises under the instruction of a friend and former EFC bantamweight champion Demarte Pena, I wasn't bothered at all.
Pena,29 is the undefeated multiple division champion who also goes by the ring name, The Wolf but to me it ends there shame. I'm still ok with loosing weight through fasting... Lets just say, I enjoy spiritual pain than a physical pain and God knows why.
But this young father was excited as I was with the launch of his own brand, Demarte Pena which produced among other things, genuine leather boxing gloves that goes with a price tag of R1500, MMA Sparring Gloves for R650, Shin Pads that are selling at R950 and hand wraps that will cost you R250.
I was rather proud as how this fella was making a lemon juice out of the lemons life throws at him.
The World Anti-Doping Agency( WADA) has placed a four year ban on him last year.
"Soon after the ban I opened up the gym. It caters for everyone living in Kyalami and surrounding areas. I also train fighters for competitions," he said.
Pena originally from Angola but based in Johannesburg was alleged to have used banned substance in a fight between him and Irshaad Sayed. Though he managed to convince the South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport (SAIDS) that he didn't intentionally dope instead the substance was traced back to the approved athletes supplements he was using.
That decision was appealed by WADA but he lost due to other things lack of finances of hiring international experts as a result, he lost the case.
"Yes it was not easy at first to accept but I've learnt to live with it. To be quite honest I enjoy being at home with my family now. When I was competing I didn't have time for them. I was always irritated even by small things. But this whole experience has taught me to enjoy life," he said.
His gym operate weekdays and Saturday while you can purchase any of his items either at the gym or online shop www.demartepena.com
Please read the original story I did on him while working for the Sunday Times two years ago.
This mixed martial arts featherweight champion was once labeled as the best Extreme Fighting Champion in Africa.
"I'm not totally out of the scene as I still do commentary every now and then. I've been fighting for nine years and not sure if I will have the same energy when the four year period is over. But I'm pushing my brand while waiting," he said.
Please note the first pic was taken from his online profile.
Go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0wwBanYnKs4 to see his gym
Please like and share the story. You can also follow me on Twitter @ndabenik, facebook: Khanyiswa Ndabeni and Instagram: Khanyiswa2. My youtube Channel is Khanyi Ndabeni
https://www.timeslive.co.za/sunday-times/sport/2017-07-08-fighter-faces-tough-bout-against-supplement-maker/
