Bafana Bafana and Burnley striker Lyle Foster has put mental health back in the spotlight and clinical sports psychologist Dr Koketjo Tsebe says the problem may be more than meets the eye.
Last week Burnley announced Foster is taking time off because of mental health problems and he will have “access to all the expertise and clinical support he needs”.
Foster is not the first high-profile sport star to struggle with mental health. Grand Slam winner Naomi Osaka, Jesse Lingard and Dele Alli are high-profile international personalities who have been affected by, and opened up about, the issue.
Tsebe, who has worked in the field since 2018, said the problem is considerable. Her worry is that it may be worse than perceived because of under reporting due to stigma and lack of knowledge. She wants sports stars to know help is available.
“It is big. It's just that we don’t have statistics to demonstrate how big the problem is,” she told TimesLIVE Premium.
Tsebe said she has seen a shift in recent years where athletes are slowly coming forward with their issues.
“It is underreported, but recently there has been a paradigm shift where a lot of athletes are coming out and this suggests there could be a lot of unreported cases.”
Tsebe, who is attached to South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (Sascoc), worked with Banyana Banyana at the 2023 World Cup and works with PSL clubs, said athletes struggle in and out of competition.
“In a competition context, let’s say you are at the Olympics, reports will be around competition stress, team cohesion, coach-related issues and leadership style. If you are outside a competition, the common reports are personal issues relating to experiences of depression, anxiety and substance uses like alcohol.”
Tsebe said she has seen a lot of women come forward with problems over the years, but there are more men doing so now.
“What I have picked up is that sporting bodies and teams will always get psychologists for females. I think maybe they feel female athletes are too soft but of late a lot more men are coming forward.”
Tsebe said if an athlete does not respond to treatment they will escalate to other professionals.
“If I see a patient and the condition is not improving, normally I escalate it by including other professionals, and the next step is a referral to a psychiatrist because they are the ones who administer medication to assess and regulate mental health.”
Bafana Bafana captain Ronwen Williams applauded Foster for taking a brave stance as the Mamelodi Sundowns goalkeeper reflected on his own challenges with mental health and personal tragedies.
“Over the past three months my cousin was shot, my mother was in an accident and on Friday before the African Football League [AFL] final against Wydad Casablanca [on Sunday] I got the message that my best friend committed suicide,” Williams told TimesLIVE Premium.
“It is things like this that can push one into this dark space. I feel like I let them down because I wasn’t there to help. There are a lot of things that one goes through.”
Williams admitted professional sports people operate in a high-pressure, results-driven environment, combined with trappings of fame and the spotlight, as well as issues that can come with financial wealth. He praised Forster for coming forward.
“It is not nice knowing one of your fellow players is going through such a tough time, but mental health has been there in football. It’s just people did not speak about it.
“I experienced something similar, maybe not as bad as him, where you just don’t want to play football any more because you are in a dark space and things are not going your way and you just want to lock yourself in your room. I can give my love and support to him. I know he is a man of God and he will get through this difficult time.”
Last season, Orlando Pirates midfielder Goodman Mosele opened up about his struggles, largely because of pressure from his family. Williams said more can be done to help players.
You need to open up but we don’t come from a society where you are allowed to talk. You must keep things under the rug and just move on. If you come out, you will be called a lot of names like you are a ‘small boy’, or you are weak
— Bafana Bafana captain Ronwen Williams
Asked if enough gets done, he said: “Not at all. People always make mention that we need to get psychologists involved, but they don’t really do it. Some clubs do have initiatives where they will bring in a psychologist when they feel you need it. I feel you need more of that because we go through so much. People should not forget we come from environments where there is poverty and you have 10 people cramped in a small house.”
Sometimes players suffer in silence and, Williams said it is important for them not to.
“You need to open up but we don’t come from a society where you are allowed to talk. You must keep things under the rug and just move on. If you come out, you will be called a lot of names like you are a ‘small boy’ or you are weak.
“I am glad that Lyle took a stance and came out. Hopefully this will encourage more players and even coaches because they go through the exact same thing.”
Bafana coach Hugo Broos was sympathetic about what Foster is going through and said there is no shame for players who come forward.
“We have to respect what has happened with Lyle. Everyone knows what the problem is and I hope he is recovers as soon as possible. I expect there are specialists in a team like Burnley. In modern football it is totally normal that there are guys like psychologists and motivators and they can help players a lot.
“Not everybody is strong to play every week, or sometimes every three days, under pressure. Sometimes you need help but that doesn’t mean you are ill. It is a weakness you have like in the knee or back and there is nothing to be ashamed of.”
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