POLOKWANE – Behind every goal and cheerful victory is an athlete carrying unseen pressures. Behind every applause, many face emotional and psychological challenges that can compromise their mental wellbeing.

As awareness of mental health continues to grow, Kgotso Moripe, a young sport entrepreneur working towards becoming a sport psychologist, speaks about mental and emotional exhaustion; the pressure to perform, fear of failure, criticism from fans, and the personal challenges athletes face daily.

Confidence and dealing with pressure

“I believe that stronger support systems, open conversations and access to mental health resources are essential to helping players cope with the pressures of the game and reminding them that they are people before they are athletes,” said Moripe.

He added that athletes deal with constant criticism from the media and pressure from fans to deliver on the field, something that can often be hard to navigate.

“On the field, they are expected to perform well in every game, help their team win, and keep their place in the squad.”

According to Moripe, emotional and mental wellbeing for footballers means having confidence and being able to deal with pressure that can affect life on and off the field.

“It’s always important to remember that before they are athletes, they are human beings first like the rest of us,” he said.

Little time to rest

Athletes also have lives outside their sport careers, although it often seems their lives revolve around constant training, travelling, recovery, and personal responsibilities.

This can leave them with very little time to rest and take care of their mental wellbeing.

He expressed that with the rapid growing concerns of mental health within sport, he believes Polokwane athletes get adequate mental health support.

Coach: ‘We sit them down and talk’

Coach Makatu Phathutshedzo of Mildoroni said players must balance both their performance and personal lives.

“Coaches spend a lot of time with these players on and off the field. Once we see unusual signs, we sit them down and talk to them. And some players go as far as assisting each other with school work and anything contributing to their struggles,” he said.

A call for support groups

Moripe emphasised that teammates can create support groups because it is all about building a solid support structure and making athletes feel they are not alone and that they should not feel ashamed speaking about their struggles and challenges.