SOUTH Africans love their sport and are more often than not unforgiving when their teams or stars fail to deliver.
The march to Naturena by Kaizer Chiefs supporters or, indeed, the reception Pitso Mosimane received recently, are just two examples.
In both cases the spotlight was on the behaviour of the supporters, with little attention given to Chiefs’ or Al Ahly’s players.
If anything, they deserved the rude awakening.
However, the experiences of Naomi Osaka, the world’s number two women’s tennis player, should waken us to what star players go through.
The way she has been treated by the rich and powerful in the sport is pathetic.
It is true that successful sport people have a host of people whose monetary and emotional investment depends on his/her prowess. But at what cost?
If Caster Semenya’s treatment doesn’t teach us anything, Osaka’s case won’t either..
Depression is real and it takes a serious toll on sportsmen and -women.
When Osaka refused to give post-match interviews, sighting depression, the powers that be penalised her $15 000!
As if that was not enough, she was threatened with a harsher sanction should she behave in a similar way again.
No one seemed concerned about her mental health, forcing her to bow out of the French Open. Only after that did the gods of tennis offer her lukewarm sympathy.
This episode is important for two reasons. Firstly, just like Semenya, Osaka’s bravery to take on the powerful helps highlight the role women can play in different strata of society. Inasmuch as they are vilified and persecuted, their voices often find their way into the coldest of hearts.
Their personal sacrifices may look self-defeating at face value, but once they stand their ground, the world’s eyes tend to open to the harsh realities women still face at the hands of men.
Secondly, mental health issues are real and must be prioritised once they come to the surface.
It is a betrayal of the worst kind for those in positions of power to second guess someone’s expressed depression.
That expression comes in different forms. It can be drug and alcohol abuse, unprovoked anger such as road rage or spousal abuse – the list is long.
It is incumbent on all of us to be vigilant to behaviour change and seek help.
Under the current Covid-19 cloud, mental health issues can be triggered by a number of factors.
Our professionals such as teachers, nurses and doctors especially are at the receiving end at the moment.
Authorities shouldn’t wait until a tragedy occurs before they are seen to be doing something. Understanding your workforce would go a long way to preventing the sad consequences of mental health issues.
* Dr Gqibithole is a lecturer in the English department at the University of Zululand
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