Orlando Pirates striker Tshegofatso Mabasa has urged PSL clubs to do more to prevent mental health issues from deepening after Premier League star Dele Alli’s heartbreaking revelations.
In an emotional interview with Manchester United legend Gary Neville on The Overlap, Alli fought back tears as he explained why his career stalled in recent years.
Alli revealed that he was abused sexually at the age of six, sold drugs as a child, and drank alcohol to “escape from the reality” of his tough upbringing as the 27-year-old opened up on his traumatic childhood.
“At six I was molested by my mom’s friend who was at the house at lot. My mom was an alcoholic. That happened at six. Seven, I started smoking; eight I started dealing drugs,” said Alli, who formed part of the England squad that reached the FIFA World Cup semi-finals in 2018.”
“I didn’t care, I wouldn’t accept help from anyone. I was so numb to everyone. I’m proud I’m through it now.” As an adult, Alli admitted that he was addicted to sleeping tablets. “It’s probably a problem that not only I have. I think it’s something that’s going around more than people realise in football,” added the ex-Tottenham Spurs star, now at Everton.
‘Footballers need support with mental health’ – MABASA
Tshegofatso Mabasa has since weighed in on the mental health problem insisting that footballers suffer panic, anxiety and depression. The Bafana Bafana and Orlando Pirates forward has urged PSL clubs to have independent mental health experts.
The 26-year-old made the request in Durban after Bafana’s 2-1 defeat to Zambia in the COSAFA Cup semi-finals on Friday.
“We saw what has been happening to Dele Ali. I believe it’s good for footballers to seek a psychologist and try to strengthen their mentality. There’s a lot that we deal with that people don’t know. And they don’t know how it affects us in the long run,” said Mabasa.
The ex-Bloemfontein Celtic hitman’s career has taken a dip since the 2020/21 season. He moved from scoring goals for Pirates to struggling to hold down a regular place at the club. And with Orlando Pirates in talks with Moroka Swallows over a loan deal, Mabasa is not part of coach Jose Riveiro’s plans for the new season.
The loan move will be Mabasa’s second in a row. He spent the 2022/23 campaign at Sekhukhune United, where he only scored two goals in 18 DStv Premiership games.
Mabasa believes that the PSL and clubs in SA do not adequately provide support for players’ mental health. He says footballers are dealing with a lot of issues that spring up at any time and still be expected to perform well.
MABABSA ADDRESSES THE MENATL HEALTH ISSUE
“In our league currently, I’m afraid to say not at all [we don’t have mental health support], and we’re not even close. It’s something that we really need to improve on,” declared Mabasa.
In the Premier League, Bundesliga and various top leagues in Europe, teams have moved swiftly in recent years to appoint sports psychologists as athletes need mental wellness.
In 2021, Man United brought in a sport psychologist Sascha Lense to “ensure the players think in the right way”.
“I don’t know who’s going to start it but we need to start somewhere. We need to help our players mentally, physically and emotionally as well because if you’re not good mentally, you won’t be able to give out the performances people expect you to give out.
“There is a high demand in terms of performance which is something we came into this game knowing and like I said, we have to be strong mentally, it is not going to come easy, we have to be strong as there is nothing else that we can do. We need to embrace the challenges that come with being a footballer.
Mabasa added: “You always need to have a good support structure around you and if you can’t find one, a psychologist seek that can help you get through these times that we are going through. It is difficult to face supporters when you are playing and you want to do your best and the next minute they are booing you.
“It is a very difficult position to be in as a footballer because all you want to do is to enjoy the game and do well. I mean mistakes happen in football, we are human at the end of the day.”
RELATED STORY: How every Orlando Pirates player on loan is performing this season
