Last year, Burnley formally announced the signing of Bafana Bafana’s Lyle Foster from Belgian side K.V.C. Westerlo, with the 23-year-old striker penning a four-and-a-half-year deal at Turf Moor as he became the latest South African to feature in the English Premier League.
However, just prior to the Afcon tournament, Foster took a break due to ‘citing ‘mental health issues’ and was ultimately unavailable for Bafana Bafana.
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Bafana coach Hugo Broos has now explained that they were more than happy to allow Foster all the necessary support and time off, but frustration grew when the playmaker then returned to action for Burnley after South Africa were told he wasn’t available for selection.
“Honestly, I am not happy, I knew from the beginning what the problems were,” Broos said, as quoted by TimesLive when discussing Foster’s absence from the Bafana team. “I knew and I was understanding [of the situation] because I spoke a few times with Burnley coach Vincent Kompany.
“Our doctor spoke to his counterpart at Burnley. We put everything together and decided it was not a good thing to call Foster for Afcon. Lyle Foster himself wrote a letter to say, ‘Please don’t call me because I am not ready to play Afcon’.
“But then he starts playing for his club and he plays every game for 90 minutes. I am asking myself why it wasn’t possible for him to come with us to Ivory Coast.
“This is my frustration, but I will not blame anyone. I am frustrated when I see him play because we could have used him at Afcon. He is a good striker and he scores. If we had Lyle we were going to be much stronger.”
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Broos hoped Foster could have added value for Bafana at Afcon
Foster is working towards leaving a legacy overseas that’s worthy of his valuation as South Africa’s most expensive player, but previously he shared an emotional story about his mental health battles and how he has struggled with depression in the past.
“Something started to creep in and I realised I was spiralling downwards. 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 told 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.”
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CHALLENGING EXPERIENCE
Foster said the support of family, friends had made a massive impact, along with his faith.
“I think a turning point for me was coming home to South Africa. I sat with my parents and someone who’s mentoring me spiritually and they just guided me through it, and directed me to the Lord. That’s really what gave me a new lease on life.
“I was trying to figure it out on my own. Now I know I don’t need to — I’ve got support and friends and family who love me.
“And just the position I’m in to be a Burnley player, I don’t understand the goodness of the Lord to be preparing to go into my first season in the Premier League. It’s something I’ve dreamed of my whole life.”
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