Like a phoenix, he will rise again and again

Maryke van Heerden

Charles Itumeleng Monaheng never had it easy with regards to other basic necessities. From day one, he was a fighter with a good cause. Living with his mother till he was three was hard but not as hard as he could ever have imagined.
By the time Charles had turned three, he had moved to a rural area with his father to live with his paternal grandparents. But it was always an uphill battle, sometimes going without food for days. And when he finally did get food, he was so hungry that he started vomiting. At the age of eight, his uncle kidnapped him to bring him back to Ikageng to live with his mother. Don’t think things got any easier, however. His mother’s boyfriend at that time was very abusive and beat her on a daily basis. Charles pleaded with her to move away from him and get them to a place of safety. But she decided it was better for him to live with her parents. For years, it got steadily better; his grandparents loved him and offered him a safe haven.
But, by the time Charles turned 17, both his grandparents had passed away. He was alone again, facing the world on his own. He started working to provide food for himself and pay for his school fees and clothing. With working, going to school and not skipping a day of exercise, you can just imagine how worn out he would sometimes get. He would often go without food for days and could sometimes not make ends meet. He fell behind with his school work and he failed matric, but this didn’t stop him. ‘I will make things work. If I break this pen I’m holding, I will find a way to fix it. No matter what, I will fix it. That is just the type of person I am,’ Charles says proudly.
So, he saddled up and tried his hand at getting his matric again and passed with flying colours. His only dream, ever since he could remember, was to have his own business and he kept that dream alive. He started working while still exercising daily. He was a great athlete with great potential.

His dream was shattered when he was involved in a motorcycle accident, however, injuring his leg and lower back. He tried his best to get back to where he was but the pain was unbearable. He finally decided to hang up his running sneakers for good. With a heavy heart, he spoke to his coach and decided it was for the best.
He then got into modelling and even went on to become Mr Africa 2014 but he still didn’t feel fulfilled – there was something missing in his life – something he still had to do. He and his pastor went to Canada for a spiritual session and it is there that he realised his purpose in life. With athletics always playing such an important part in his life, he never realised, up to then, that it was his destiny.
As soon as he got back, he enrolled in a personal training course. With a lot of blood, sweat and tears, he got through it. By now, he was motivated and educated to start his own business. He started giving free lessons at the Trim Park. ‘I feel you can’t sell someone something if they don’t know if it is worth it,’ he explained. Now, going strong for two years running, with 48 permanent members. He has also trained his cousin George Sebetla and is now off to play his trade in Germany as a professional soccer player. But this isn’t his only prodigy. Ruan Gagiano is part of Charles’ Fitness Kids’ Club and boasts with 13 gold medals in swimming and athletics. Each member is special to him in their own way. Every goal is not only met by his client but by himself, too. With someone who has so much passion and drive, you cannot help feeling motivated. I sit back and look at this entrepreneur with his constant smile and energetic personality and can’t help walking away from our interview feeling energised myself. If I feel like this after just talking to Charles, imagine what he does for his members. I can’t help thinking this is just the beginning of Charles’s fitness club.