In Singapore for Starhub's 'Football For All' Carnival, the former EPL stars and Starhub's Johan Buse talk all things mental health for Mental Health Awareness Month
You don’t get two English Premier League (EPL) trophies on standby every season. In fact, this season will mark only the tenth time out of 32 where title rights will be decided on the final day.
This Sunday, Starhub’s ‘Football For All’ Carnival at Marina Bay Sands will showcase all 10 final games at the same time, but most eyes will be on Manchester City and Arsenal who take on West Ham and Everton respectively. The two teams have brought the title down to the wire, as what sets them apart in the table is only two points and one on goal difference. If Manchester City fail to secure all three points, it would be up to Arsenal to decide the fate of the 23/24 season.
To call this a high pressure situation would be the understatement of the year. Not only are they playing for themselves, but also for millions of fans around the globe. As such, the players carry almost literally the weight of the world on their shoulders and this can undoubtedly have a heavy impact on the mental health of even the strongest athlete or manager.
To paint the picture of final day pressure, we go back to 13th May 2012 — a day etched into football folklore. Manchester City and Manchester United were toe-to-toe on points but since City were up on goal difference, they needed to at least match the result of their rivals to win the league. Meanwhile, Manchester City’s opponent that day was Queen's Park Rangers (QPR), who needed a draw to avoid relegation. With title hopes and relegation still up in the air, the pressure was at an all time high.
Shaun Wright-Phillips — who played for QPR that day and who has starred for Chelsea and Manchester City — knows all too well the impact pressure and noise could have on a footballer’s mental health. Despite the occasion, it’s easy to get overwhelmed and burn out. At a roundtable session hosted by Starhub with former Liverpool star Luis Garcia, the two provided insights into what goes on in the heads of an elite footballer and how to remove the stigma around mental health.
“When I was younger, I wasn't a great talker. I bottled my feelings up a lot and thought I could deal with it myself. I was lucky because I had supportive parents and friends to sit through that with me,” said the former winger, also the son of Arsenal legend Ian Wright.
While it was a rarity for elite athletes to speak up in the years in which Wright-Phillips and Garcia were at the peak of their careers, times are changing. Olympian Simone Biles and Tennis star Naomi Osaka have both openly declared their battles with mental health. Pulling experiences from their own youths, the two ex-internationals emphasized on the need to open up to friends, family or professionals to tackle the stigma of mental health in sports.
“The pressure that the kids nowadays have to deal with in comparison with what we had to deal with, whether it’s on social media, problems at school or family life, kids are finding it really hard and the best thing I learned to do is to talk to people. I think I found that talking really helped as it gave me different points of view and ideas. Talking, in regards to mental health, is so massive,” Wright-Phillips added.
As a father of four, Garcia reflected on the difficulties of getting through to younger people who tend to be more reluctant to open up and how important it has been having athletes use their platforms to speak up.
“If you feel like your tooth is hurting, you go to a dentist. If you have a problem with your eyes, you go to a doctor. No one realises that you could have something affecting your mind but you don’t go to a professional,” shared the Barcelona La Masia product.
“When I was at Liverpool, I started working with a sports psychologist to help me go through my low moments because I wasn't playing the way that I wanted. The expectations that are put on players to be perfect all the time on the pitch and off the pitch can be very pressurising.”
In Singapore, most are exposed to the world of the EPL with the help of Starhub’s broadcasting of the league’s matches. Passionate for football and equipped with a masters in psychology, Starhub’s Head of Consumer Business Johan Buse believes there are many intertwining aspects of football and life in respects to mental health.
“With the way the world is evolving in terms of the technology and everything around us, there's so much pressure on kids,” the Dutch native explained.
“So I think football helps people to connect. You need to have a healthy level of stress because it generates your mind to cope with the problems you face but if it gets too much and you don’t have support, it can cause serious chain reactions.”
Ever since its broadcasting of the EPL, Starhub has organised countless events and provided access to former stars. This year alone, Starhub's initiatives has seen ex-Danish international Peter Schmeichel’s presence at the Junior Stars Football Special, while Garcia and Wright-Phillips will be gracing the 'Football For All' Carnival this Sunday.
Providing not just the adults — who actually watched these former players grace the pitch — with access to these players, but also kids has been essential in growing the love for the game.
“Watching football is one thing but participating and playing helps even more. It helps with your mental health tremendously. Some people play to have a good time and laugh about while some take it very seriously and that’s the beauty of team sport,” added Buse.
“When Singaporeans come to our events and meet these former world-class players, it can be such a positive influence. Providing access to them motivates kids and those from less privileged backgrounds.”
As we approach the climactic end of the EPL season, the intense pressure on players like those from Manchester City and Arsenal highlights the profound impact high-stakes sports can have on mental health. However, proven clearly by the emanating passion for football the game’s enthusiasts have, football has always been a vital avenue for mental health support and community connection.
Registrations are still open for the 'Football for All' Carnival here.
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