
15/06/2025
After taking a brief hiatus from the mental health field, I made a purposeful return by leading a Mental Health Check and routine wellness sessions with the .The engagement was both enriching and insightful, emphasizing the critical role of mental wellbeing in football. While physical fitness is vital, players thrive when their social, emotional, and spiritual wellness are equally nurtured.
Key focus areas identified for building a successful and resilient team included:
1. Self-awareness – Encouraging both players and management to understand their emotions, strengths, and limits fosters better decision-making and personal growth.
2. Open Communication – Maintaining constant, honest dialogue helps prevent misunderstandings and builds trust across the team.
3. Teamwork – In football, as in life, no one should walk alone. Unity, support, and shared purpose are the bedrock of performance.
4. Avoiding Assumptions – Assumptions can erode trust. Instead, we promote asking questions, giving feedback, and recognizing individual effort.
5. Holistic Wellbeing – Success stems from a foundation of mental, emotional, and spiritual balance. By aligning individual goals with collective purpose, we fuel both personal fulfillment and team excellence.
We coined the phrase Soka Timamu, a Swahili expression meaning "Sane Soccer" to embody the spirit of our mission: football that is driven by clarity of mind, emotional intelligence, and strong interpersonal connections.