Former Sundowns midfielder Brent Carelse urges clubs to hire mental health specialists

Former Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Brent Carelse has called on football clubs to make players’ mental health a priority by employing coaches or sport psychologists.

Carelse, who is now the player welfare coordinator for the South African Football Players Union (SAFPU), said footballers needed to be in the right frame of mind if they were to perform consistently at their highest level.

Speaking about the support he provides to players, Carelse said many were dealing with serious mental health difficulties.

“A lot of our players are suffering, I must say. I deal with them on a daily basis. Depression, whatever you want to call it,” said Carelse.

He believes the issue has received greater attention in recent years but is still not treated with the seriousness it deserves by clubs.

“I think mental health is something that has popped up a lot in recent years, but nobody looks at it seriously. And clubs will realize when it’s too late,” he said.

Carelse said clubs should take action before problems become more severe, particularly given the demands placed on footballers who are expected to perform at their maximum every day.

“I think more and more clubs need to hire either the right coaches or sport psychologists, whatever you want to call it. But I think it’s important (for footballers), especially when that person is performing every day to their maximum. If you are not mentally well, he’s not going to do that,” he added.

His comments come amid wider concerns about the psychological wellbeing of professional players. A study by the International Federation of Professional Footballers, generally known as FIFPRO, found that roughly 38% of active players experience symptoms of depression or anxiety.

The findings underline Carelse’s view that mental health support should form part of the structures available to players at their clubs.

As SAFPU’s player welfare coordinator, Carelse works with footballers dealing with issues including depression and has direct contact with them on a daily basis. His role has reinforced his belief that players’ welfare can affect their ability to perform.

Carelse’s central message is that clubs should provide specialist support as part of their responsibility to footballers, rather than waiting until a player’s difficulties become impossible to ignore.