South African football must adopt holistic approach to match Springboks, says Byrne

South African football clubs are missing a key element that has helped the Springboks and leading European teams consistently perform at the highest level, according to performance and sport psychology coach Jordan Byrne.

Byrne believes South African football is falling behind in providing players with the comprehensive support needed to manage both their sporting demands and personal wellbeing.

The country has no shortage of talented footballers, but the performances of individuals can fluctuate significantly. Byrne says that inconsistency can contribute to careers being cut short or players failing to fulfil their potential.

Mamelodi Sundowns forward Monnapule Saleng is a current example. The forward has been unable to perform because of issues that do not appear to be football-related.

Speaking about the role of performance and sport psychology, Byrne said South African football had yet to fully embrace a holistic model of athlete management. He also pointed to the success of the South African Rugby national team and the influence of the work carried out by Rassie Erasmus.

“I think that starts at the top, we’re seeing in Europe, South Africa we’re way behind, we have always been on that front. If you look at the Springbok team, the work that Rassie has done with them,” Byrne said in an exclusive interview with KickOff.

The approach, Byrne explained, focuses on the individual as well as the player, ensuring that athletes receive support away from the technical demands of their sport.

“A lot of that has been centered around the individual, the human that is underneath the kit and that sort of approach. And we’re seeing in Europe, America, there’s massive focus on what we call a holistic approach to the athlete.

“The technical side of the sport, training, coaching, that sort of a thing, the technical side, nutrition and diet side and then there’s the psychological support as well and if we’re not approaching our teams with this model, there’s always going to be something that is left out,” Byrne said.

He added that extensive training and tactical preparation could not compensate for a player who was struggling mentally or was unable to focus.

“You can have five training sessions a day, you can do as much tactical and technical work as you like with individuals but ultimately, if their mind is not at the right place, at the end of the day, if they are not focused, if they are not the best version of themselves, that training will be futile, that training is going to go to waste,” the Masters alumni of the University of the Western Cape insisted.

Byrne’s comments come as questions continue to be asked about how South African football clubs support players facing difficulties away from the pitch. The discussion has also included the mental-health debate following Adams’ passing and the scrutiny surrounding Saleng’s situation at Mamelodi Sundowns.

For professional support, Byrne can be contacted on Instagram at @MindMattersPerformance, the account for Mind Matters, or by email at Jordan@mindmatterspro.uk.