COME BACK STRONG
Men's Health South Africa|March 2020
DURANG ATEMBE MAY BE YOUNG, BUT HE’S ALREADY LEARNT THAT WHEN LIFE KNOCKS YOU DOWN, YOU JUST HAVE TO KEEP GOING. THIS IS HOW HE FOUND THE STRENGTH TO CARRY ON AFTER BEING FORCED TO PUT HIS RUGBY ASPIRATIONS ON HOLD.
MEGAN FLEMMIT
COME BACK STRONG

An injury to his ankle during a game against the Griquas forced Durang Atembe to hit pause on his dreams of being a professional rugby player. The flanker’s career was just taking off. He’d worked hard at school, earning a spot at Craven Week and then later at Grant Khomo, before finding a home with the Bulls U21 squad after matric.

But fate had other plans for Durang. The injury to his ankle forced him to reassess his future. “Being injured as a player is really bad for your career. I was more off the field than on it, and that was bad for my contract because they were basically paying me for nothing.” After speaking to his agent, Durang made the tough decision to take a break from the game. Playing rugby had been his life since he was 12. “It was a painful decision to make. I felt like I was losing everything and I just felt lost.”

A New Purpose

Stepping away from the game took a toll on Durang’s mental health. “I was young and I was scared about what was coming next,” he recalls. While battling to come to terms with the fact that he would no longer be playing the game he loved, Durang worked up the courage to tell his father about his decision. “I didn’t come from a rich background and playing rugby was going to be the way I gave back to them,” he explains. But despite his fears, the conversation gave him peace of mind. “He told me that everything was going to be fine. He said, ‘You’ve worked hard you entire life, you tried’.”

This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM MEN'S HEALTH SOUTH AFRICAView all
CAN YOU REMIX YOUR MINDSET?
Men's Health South Africa

CAN YOU REMIX YOUR MINDSET?

YOU KNOW MUSIC ALTERS MOOD. NOW A NEW APP PROMISES THE RIGHT TRACKS CAN SOOTHE STRESS, BOOST PRODUCTIVITY AND LEVEL UP YOUR GYM GAINS.

time-read
2 mins  |
November-December 2024
ANTI-INFLAMMATORY DIET REALLY SO ?
Men's Health South Africa

ANTI-INFLAMMATORY DIET REALLY SO ?

AND DOES IT REALLY FIGHT OFF DISEASE? WE LOOK AT THE DATA.

time-read
1 min  |
November-December 2024
THE SEMI-COMPLETE USER'S GUIDE TO...YOUR LUNGS
Men's Health South Africa

THE SEMI-COMPLETE USER'S GUIDE TO...YOUR LUNGS

THEY POWER A WORKOUT, FILTER OUT INVADERS AND WORK FOR US 24/7-UNLESS GERMS, POLLUTANTS, BAD LUCK OR OUR OWN NEGLECT GETS IN THE WAY. TAKE A DEEP BREATH AND DISCOVER HOW TO HELP THEM OUT.

time-read
3 mins  |
November-December 2024
ACTION MAN
Men's Health South Africa

ACTION MAN

THERE WAS NO MIRACLE FIX FOR TIMOTHY FAIRWEATHER'S HEAVIER PROBLEMS. THE SECRET: TAKING SMALL ACTIONS EVERY DAY TO BUILD UP TO MASSIVE RESULTS.

time-read
2 mins  |
November-December 2024
THE MUSCLE SPRINT
Men's Health South Africa

THE MUSCLE SPRINT

CRUSH ALL MAJOR MUSCLE GROUPS, BLAST CALORIES AND SUPERCHARGE YOUR CARDIO WITH THIS DUMBBELL WORKOUT, WHICH HAS AN INTENSE 55-REP LADDER SCHEME THAT MINIMISES REST AND MAXIMISES FUN.

time-read
1 min  |
November-December 2024
THE ULTIMATE SUMMER BODYWEIGHT BURNER
Men's Health South Africa

THE ULTIMATE SUMMER BODYWEIGHT BURNER

BUILD MUSCLE AND STRENGTH AND CHALLENGE YOUR COORDINATION AND ATHLETICISM WITH THIS NO-EQUIPMENT WORKOUT.

time-read
2 mins  |
November-December 2024
RISE OF THE BEASTS
Men's Health South Africa

RISE OF THE BEASTS

THIS YEAR'S MILESTONE TENTH EDITION OF OUR COVER GUY SEARCH DREW 413 GUYS WHO EMBODY SELFLESSNESS, GRIT AND PERSEVERANCE. THEIR ANIMALISTIC DEVOTION TO FITNESS AND TALES OF TRIUMPH WILL INSPIRE YOU TO GREATNESS.

time-read
5 mins  |
November-December 2024
...I LOSE MY COOL?
Men's Health South Africa

...I LOSE MY COOL?

DON'T WHITE-KNUCKLE IT. LEARN TO UNDERSTAND, OWN AND ULTIMATELY TAME YOUR OUTRAGE WITH OUR EXPERT POINTERS. DEEP BREATH, NOW...

time-read
2 mins  |
November-December 2024
MOVING MOUNTAINS
Men's Health South Africa

MOVING MOUNTAINS

LONG HAULS, STEEP CLIMBS, EXTREME COLD AND OTHERWORLDLY LANDSCAPES IN THE CEDERBERG-OUR WRITER TAKES ON THE ELEMENTS AND UNEARTHS A NEW PERSPECTIVE ON A FIVEDAY TREK ALONG PHANTOM PATHS CUT THROUGH BEWITCHING SCENERY.

time-read
9 mins  |
November-December 2024
THE NEW PLYO POWER-UP
Men's Health South Africa

THE NEW PLYO POWER-UP

HOW MODERN TAKES ON AN OLD FITNESS FAVOURITE CAN CALIBRATE YOUR TRAINING FOR AN INSTA-BOOST OF ATHLETICISM AND STRENGTH.

time-read
2 mins  |
November-December 2024