TS Galaxy striker Bernard Parker says it’s “critical for every professional club to have a mental coach”.
The 37-year-old is working his way back to fitness after finding himself on the end of a horror tackle that threatened to end his career.
The veteran midfielder suffered a leg break in a challenge by Mamelodi Sundowns’ Bongani Zungu in the Carling Knockout Cup quarter-finals.
Now as his side prepares to take on AmaZulu in the cup semi-finals, Parker explained the importance of getting help during the tough times.
He said on FARPost: “I think it’s very critical for every professional club to have a mental coach or performance coach. It goes hand in hand or a life coach because all that stuff goes hand in hand.
“As players we go through, all that the public sees is just us performing on the field of play but the public doesn’t know what sacrifices we have to make, what things we go through. What stress do we get from our families.
“Also if you are not strong mentally we tend to handle that stress with other things and we have seen what has been happening in football. How we handle stress and the next thing your career goes down the drain or you fall out in the professional ranks.”
Parker added: “So I think it’s very important for every professional football team to invest in such because I believe the stronger the mindset, mentality and mental strength the better you get from a player.”
Parker is expected to return to action in February next year.