The grand opening of the Pro Fitness Gym will soon come to life at the Igam Barracks, Second Bus Stop in Lae Morobe Province. Young Entrepreneur and founder of the Wantok Sports Agency Mr. Nickson Borana told PNG HAUSBUNG his initiative behind Pro Fitness Gym and the postponement of its grand opening. Borana emphasized that Lae has only one Gym located at the stadium downtown. However, it lacks proper endurance and conditioning training equipment with an expensive entry fee, and the location is quite a distance from most rural communities to allow accessible quality and healthy workouts. He added the unforeseen delays caused by the recent heavy rains have pushed the grand opening date to later this year. This new gym promises to bring accessible, high-quality fitness services to Lae residents, particularly those in rural communities who lack affordable and nearby exercise facilities. Pro Fitness Gym is designed to address the gaps Borana identified in Lae’s fitness landscape. With only one public gym available in downtown Lae, which lacks proper endurance and conditioning equipment, Borana saw the need for a more accessible and affordable alternative. His long-term goal is to establish more gyms in rural areas, making quality fitness opportunities available to all. Borana highlighted the significant obstacles faced including difficulty in securing funds, dealing with Lae’s wet weather, and navigating the muddy roads that hindered material transportation to the site. Despite these setbacks, Borana and his team of three residents of Igam- Second Palm Block, Silas, Joseph, and Clearance, have managed to construct the main building. The remaining work includes finishing the toilet and bathroom areas and installing electricity. Borana expressed that his vision extends beyond physical fitness, and it’s about creating a healthy body and mind for his clients. Before starting any training, potential clients must be medically cleared. The gym will be hiring one staff member with experience working with semi-professional sports teams in PNG, reflecting Borana’s commitment to providing professional and knowledgeable services. Borana further emphasized that his journey as a business owner for the Pro Fitness Gym and Wantok Sports Agency hopefully inspires others to be more open minded into starting a business apart from their professional athlete careers. He encouraged young athletes to think beyond their sports careers and invest in their futures by starting businesses. “I hope I can inspire other young athletes to become entrepreneurs." "We all know that we’re not going to play any physical sports till we’re 35 or 40 years old.” "So now while we’re making money doing what we love, let’s use our salary or match payments and open businesses." "Anyone can become an entrepreneur or SME owner." "All you need is to register your business name with IPA and then apply for a TIN at IRC." "Then open a bank account at one of the recognized banking institutions and then you’re all set to operate.” “Then after 12 or 24 months of operation, you’ll then be eligible for SME loans." "It’s easy as that! It’s important to plan and prepare for life after professional sports, otherwise you’ll become one of many PNG superstars who once lived a lavish lifestyle and now are unemployed and back in the village,” said Borana. For now, Pro Fitness Gym is a work-in-progress, but its foundation is strong. Borana’s passion for fitness, coupled with his entrepreneurial spirit in the Wantok Sports Agency, signals a bright future for this new venture and its potential impact on the community.