Kompany praises Bafana star Foster for bravery over mental health
Kompany praises Bafana star Foster for bravery over mental health
Last year, Burnley formally announced the signing of Bafana Bafana’s Lyle Foster from Belgian side K.V.C. Westerlo. The young striker penned a four-and-a-half-year deal at Turf Moor just as the English club duly secured Premier League promotion.
Foster is working towards leaving a legacy overseas that’s worthy of his valuation as South Africa’s most expensive player, but he has also notably been very honest about his mental health battles and how he has struggled with depression in the past.
“I had severe depression and anxiety and it was very difficult to cope with where I was at with performing, with all of these things and focusing on my reality,” Foster shared in an interview on Marawa Sports Worldwide last year.
“I was in my apartment by myself. I realised I felt this huge sense of loneliness and emptiness, like I was chasing towards something that I didn’t know if it was for me. I felt I couldn’t freely express myself around my teammates. It was a lot more difficult to do things footballers are supposed to do.
“I used to try to go to training, play games, but honestly the best thing to do at that time in my life was to get back home and sleep. It was like no real excitement or looking forward to anything. That’s when I realised I’m in a bit of a pickle here, in some trouble. And of course I panicked a bit. I didn’t know what was going on and how to deal with it because it was the first time I was in a position like that.”
Lyle Foster has has expressed gratitude to his support network
During this past season, Foster again took time away from the game to prioritise his mental health, and he has been fully supported by the Burnley club.
Burnley head coach Vincent Kompany has now expressed how important it was for this topic to be openly addressed.
“I think Lyle did something very powerful by actually speaking up about it himself, and allowing us to speak about it,” Kompany told Premier League Inside Matters.
“How he processed his situation was very, very mature for a young individual in the end. I think we’ve all learned through experiencing this with him you know… Lyle has been massive in helping us to understand how to best support players that are facing the situation.”
Back in the Bafana mix
Foster, 23, has just been named in the Bafana Bafana preliminary squad ahead of the Nigeria and Zimbabwe 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
Provisional squad
Goalkeepers:
- Ronwen Williams (Mamelodi Sundowns)
- Bruce Bvuma (Kaizer Chiefs)
- Ricardo Goss (SuperSport United)
- Veli Mothwa (AmaZulu)
Defenders:
- Nyiko Mobbie (Sekhukhune United)
- Thabiso Monyane (Orlando Pirates)
- Thapelo Morena (Mamelodi Sundowns)
- Innocent Maela (Orlando Pirates)
- Nkosinathi Sibisi (Orlando Pirates)
- Aubrey Modiba (Mamelodi Sundowns)
- Given Msimango (Kaizer Chiefs)
- Mothobi Mvala (Mamelodi Sundowns)
- Tapelo Xoki (Orlando Pirates)
- Khuliso Mudau (Mamelodi Sundowns)
- Terrence Mashego (Mamelodi Sundowns)
- Thabo Moloisane (Stellenbosch FC)
- Siyabonga Ngezana (FCSB, Romania)
- Grant Kekana (Mamelodi Sundowns)
Midfielders:
- Teboho Mokoena (Mamelodi Sundowns)
- Grant Margeman (SuperSport United)
- Jayden Adams (Stellenbosch FC)
- Bathusi Aubaas (Mamelodi Sundowns)
- Sphephelo Sithole (Tondela, Portugal)
Forwards:
- Themba Zwane (Mamelodi Sundowns)
- Devin Titus (Stellenbosch FC)
- Oswin Appollis (Polokwane City)
- Patrick Maswanganyi (Orlando Pirates)
- Mlondi Mbanjwa (AmaZulu)
- Iqraam Rayners (Stellenbosch FC)
- Tshepang Moremi (AmaZulu)
- Elias Mokwana (Sekhukhune United)
- Lyle Foster (Burnley, England)
- Evidence Makgopa (Orlando Pirates)
- Percy Tau (Al Ahly, Egypt)
- Relebohile Mofokeng (Orlando Pirates)
- Mihlali Mayambela (Aris Limassol, Cyprus)