Injury woes won’t hold Mnyamane back

SuperSport United winger Thabo Mnyamane decided to swim against the tide and meditate to the beat and trumpets of Matsantsantsa A Pitori’s fans and the glaring spotlights that illuminate the Lucas Masterpieces Moripe Stadium when the moon is out.

Mnyamane found so much peace on the pitch when he scored a goal to mark his return from countless injury setbacks which have hampered his progress in the past two seasons. His celebration was one that is close to his heart as he immediately ran towards the corner flag after tapping in a cross from Teboho Mokoena against Highlands Park on 6 December, and sat down in a Sukhasana meditation posture.

“It was a form of meditation because I believe that in times of trouble one needs to calm down and realise that the inner person in them still has the power to revive their career. For me it was to say even in the midst of these injuries I will still remain calm and believe that I can still do it,” Mnyamane told Phakaaathi.

“First and foremost I believe in God and that everything happens for a reason. When you are out, don’t be despondent because you are going to come back and when you come back you have to be positive. For me it was about my family and team-mates who said ‘Okay, you are out but you are still part of this and we don’t love you any less’.

“Me coming back and scoring, it was just thanking everyone since I have been out. We all know that I have been struggling with niggling injuries but I am glad when I get my minutes and make them count,” he added.

Mnyamane’s injury challenges have seen him become a part-time player who kicks a ball for a couple of games and returns to the casualty ward but his mental strength gives him the belief that he can return to being the player that once attracted Bafana Bafana scouts when he was still playing for the North West University Varsity Football team in 2015.

“I have made a few strides since leaving Tuks and gained a bit of experience and I have struggled with injuries…I feel like I took a few steps forward but the injuries held me back. But overall I think I have grown as a player and as person because at the time I was still a bit naïve.

“When I would get injuries I would get emotional but now I understand that it is part of the game and I just have to stay positive, focus and try to get back as quick as possible.

“You try to stimulate your mind in different ways, whether you just watch or analyse games and reminisce and think about the good old days. That helps the mind stay in the game because once you shut-down it is going to be difficult after six months to switch on the lights and expect everything to be normal. If they say six months out, don’t look at it as a train smash, look at it as a way of saying by the next six months I am coming back stronger and better. Just say they are giving me a chance to train more for three months and look at it in a positive light.”

One thing about post injury, Mnyamane says, is that when you get back into action you tend to be very cautious how you play. You don’t tackle as hard as you should and probably don’t sprint off the mark as quick as normal. He explains why: “You need to be cautious when you are coming back, you can’t go crazy, you just need to feel your body and manage it. You start off a bit cagey and a bit cautious but the more you train the more you realise that the body is getting back to its normal form and you can sprint however you can and go into challenges however you want. I think every player has that at the back of their minds when they come back that they might pull up again but eventually you get over the injury.”

His current deal with the capital city club is set to expire at the end of the season but United have an option to extend his contract by two years. Mnyamane told Phakaaathi that he has not been into chief executive officer Stanley Matthews’ office to discuss his future. If it were up to him, he would sign a new deal ASAP.

In the event that his stay at United comes to an end, he will leave his future to God’s hands.

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