North-West University captain Tshepiso Mahlangu who lifted the FNB Player of the Match feels anyone of his teammates could have scooped the honour while he delivered a powerful message on mental health and how he’s managed to maintain his focus during the challenging periods of being a student and a full-time footballer.
Mahlangu, 23, represents one of the leaders of the NWU squad who opened up their 2022 Varsity Football campaign with a 2-1 win over Wits University last week.
A pillar in defence which many have tipped to make the step up to the Premier Soccer League, he showed his humility by showering the rest of the squad with praise and suggested there’s more to come as the new faces start to gel under head coach Karabo Masehla.
“The Man of the Match award against Wits, for me it’s just a reward for the performance I have but it honestly felt on the day, it could have been any one of us,” captain Mahlangu said.
“The performance we put in as a team was so solid and required a lot of character from us, we had four debutants in the back-five and to win against such a well-coached team a Wits is a testimony to the quality we have in our team.
“Two debutants were on the scoresheet as well so it just shows that the team was solid together, more than me being a standout player.”
As part of scooping the Player of the Match honour, Mahlangu will don a green armband in the competition #SpeakUp campaign with the Ithemba Foundation. This is an important topic he feels players desperately need to be opening up about on a more regular basis.
“In terms of mental health, I think it’s a topic we desperately need to be touching on more in the football fraternity. I think I read an article where [Paul] Pogba spoke about it recently, I know Jack Wilshere spoke about it recently – I feel it’s an aspect footballers overlook,” Mahlangu admitted.
“We’re people of service, you know? We go to training and play matches, and you get paid at the end of the month. So nobody expects you to have any problems because of the money in the game. But I feel that’s one aspect, especially in Africa we could close the gap a little bit more with the European teams.
“Because I know teams that side has team psychologists, people in the team who interact with players on a level to get the understanding of what’s going on outside of the pitch.”
The towering defender might be known for his physical stature and tough-tackling defending but is notability well versed in the importance of what a good mental health state can do for your career and if it’s not addressed, the dangers that one can fall victim to.
“I feel like if every team, especially those more equipped than us in the professional set-ups, could have something like that – it would help players stay focused, players speak about their frustrations before it can even get to the field and affect the performances,” he continued.”
“You find cases where the problems are taken home, where a man abuses his girlfriend or wife… so I feel it’s something we can touch on.
“I, I’m only 23 but since coming to the North West University in Mafikeng, I’ve been to the psychologist a few times, I’ve been there for therapy sessions which have helped me a lot.
“So I think as footballers we need to speak up more, shine the light on it because there are young guys who are coming in who will probably face the same challenges, do the same mistakes we’ve made, unless someone speaks about it, the cycle just continues.”
Speak Up! Watch out for your roommate, your classmate, your flatmate, and your teammate – depression and related illnesses can be treated – get help! Let’s take the “I” out of illness and replace it with “we” for wellness!
For more details about the #SpeakUp campaign and a list of all the help centres at university campuses across South Africa click HERE.
