Just In: Burnley 22 Goals Sticker Open up on his mental health struggles

July 15, 2023 admin Burnley 0

 

Foster joined the Clarets from Belgian outfit Westerlo in the January window and was on target in the 3-

0 win against Wigan in March.

 

 

 

 

 

The 22-year-old struggled with his mental health after leaving South Africa to pursue a career in Europe.

In a brave interview with radio station MSW, Foster spoke about one of his darkest points while playing

for Westerlo.

“I was in my apartment all by myself. I realised I just felt this huge sense of loneliness,” he said.

“I felt like I couldn’t really express myself with all of my team-mates. It was a lot more difficult to be

around them and do things footballers are supposed to do.

“I just used to try and go to training, play games and honestly the best thing to do at that time of my life

was to go back home and sleep. There was no real excitement or looking forward to anything.

“That’s when I realised I was in some trouble and I panicked a little bit. I didn’t know what was going on

or how to deal with it because it was the first time I was in a position like that.”

Foster admitted he had even considered taking his own life at his lowest point.

Thankfully, the young forward is in a much better place now and says he wakes up “grateful” every day.

He hailed Burnley assistant Craig Bellamy – who has also opened up about his own mental health battles

in the past – for his support.

“I’ve got heaps of support. I’ve got family and friends who love me for who I am and that’s more that any

human can ask for,” he added.

“The position I’m in as a Burnley player, to be preparing for my first season in the Premier League is

something I have dreamed of my whole life.

“I’m smiling again. I’m happy to be around my team-mates and happy to be on the field.

“Thanks to the coach, Craig, who has been a massive help and the club as a whole, who have opened up

and spoken to me about it.

“They have helped me tremendously and have my best interests at heart. I wake up every day grateful,

ready to go to training and give my best.”

READ MORE:

Coventry City should look to all-action Premier League midfielder if Gustavo Hamer leaves for Burnley: Opinion

Gustavo Hamer has been credited with interest across the Premier League but Coventry could find a

ready made replacement waiting in the wings.

Viktor Gyokeres’ superb season has seen him on the brink of a £20.5m move to Portuguese giants

Sporting Lisbon, leaving the club to sign Everton starlet Ellis Simms for a fee that could reach £8m to

replace his goals. It’s a huge fee for Coventry, their biggest ever, but selling might not be done there.

Dutch midfield metronome Gustavo Hamer has also been linked with a move away from the CBS

Stadium, with Burnley being credited with an interest alongside Fulham as Premier League interest

picks up.

However, with Coventry acting quick to replace their Swedish goalscorer, they could do the same with

Hamer – and as Bournemouth star Emiliano Marcondes sees himself on the fringes of their team, Mark

Robins could bring him in should Hamer leave.

What would Emiliano Marcondes bring to Coventry City?

Marcondes moved to Brentford in the winter of 2018 and began life slowly in the English capital with 13

appearances that season and just 13 the next.

However, he slowly made his impression upon Thomas Frank and became a first-team fixture as the

Bees progressed to two Championship play-off finals, losing the first time around vs Fulham before

getting the better of Swansea with their second bite of the cherry.

The Dane’s goal in the win over the Welsh outfit proved that he, like Hamer, is a player for the big

occasion by scoring on the Wembley turf – and that can only translate to good things throughout the

season. Naturally, as the Bees progressed to the Premier League, Marcondes was deemed surplus to

requirements, with the signings of Frank Onyeka, Kristoffer Ajer, and even Christian Eriksen in January

throughout the season.

But after firing Bournemouth to promotion in the 2021/22 season, he wasn’t featured in their squad

either, going out on loan to Nordsjaelland, the club where it all began.

As he is seemingly out of the first-team picture at the Vitality Stadium, Marcondes has proved twice that

he can be part of a promotion-winning club, and is entering his prime at the age of 28. He may be a

player that lies slightly further forward of Hamer on the pitch, but coming at a snip of the potential fee

for Hamer, he could well excel in the Midlands should a move be made for his services.

How much would Emiliano Marcondes cost Coventry City?

Having never picked up a transfer fee so far in his career, it is hard to gauge just where Bournemouth

would stand on a potential fee for his services.

With just one year left on his contract and having only once in the Premier League for the Cherries,

Marcondes surely wouldn’t cost a huge amount. Transfermarkt values him at £1.3million, which may be

a little below what the Bees ask for but not too far.

With Hamer likely to cost north of £10m, Coventry would be preserving a lot of the money they received

for both the Dutchman and Gyokeres, which means they could use that cash to strengthen in other areas

of the pitch.

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