MENTAL WELLBEING
FOOTBALL’S BIGGEST ISSUE
THE MENTAL PRESSURES FACING ACADEMY PLAYERS Eno Nto, a 17-year-old former Derby County Academy player going into his final year of school with the thrilling US Soccer Scholarship opportunity in the not so distant future, speaks to Premier Sports Network on protecting his mental wellbeing as an academy player. Thousands of young, aspiring footballers pass through academy systems each year, many of whom have their dreams of a professional career shattered and face increasing pressures on their mental wellbeing. There is no hiding that many athletes suffer from depression and other mental health issues when up against the pressures of elite-level sport and pursuing their dreams, where there has been many notible examples. During this time, it is especially important for clubs and society at large to look after and pay attention to the mental wellbeing of young men and women.
What is your first memory of football? My first memory of football is me playing in the ‘Theatre of Dreams’ in Dubai, which doubled as my back garden, our first summer living there over ten years ago. Myself, my young brother and three of our new friends playing bare foot on concrete, trying to recreate skills and 48 | OTFF ISSUE 13 ★ NOVEMBER 2020
goals we had watched. Although, it was only five of us playing, the games were intensified by stubbed toes and the unforgiving temperatures, when the sun subsided, we continued playing even having broken all the backyard lights. I feel in love with the game watching the under-17’s World Cup held in Dubai, seeing boys practically my age playing with confidence and flair, representing Nigeria and winning the tournament; I can say that was the moment a decision was made to make it my reality. How did you get into the Derby Academy and what was your relationship with football like? I was having the time of my life with football, my confidence in my abilities was second to none, so much so that I was scouted by Wolves after freestyling and challenging spectators to panna ‘nutmeg’ games at my cousin’s tournament (which I wasn’t even playing in). I had returned to England and moved to a boarding school in the Midlands, so I could complete my trial. However, ➡
