'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Spain’s Jesus Navas has a peculiar problem. Navas, who plays for La liga outfit Sevilla, experiences terrible homesickness whenever on tour for both club and country.
Infact, the problem was so severe for Navas during the early days of his footballing career that he had to undergo treatment and extended therapy to cope with it and avoid breakdowns when on tour. Navas had to cancel an offer from Premier league giants Chelsea just a few years back, after finding it difficult to adapt to life in England.
Navas admits that now though he is slowly but surely coping up with his problems of adapting to a different place and culture, his case reminds us of former Dutch and Arsenal legend Dennis Bergkamp.
Bergkamp was famous for his legendary ‘fear of flying’ during his time at Arsenal and regrets at not having represented the Netherlands in major competitions as he could not cope up with his airplane problems. Ironically, Bergkamp, who has produced some stellar performances during his time at Highbury, was nicknamed ‘The Non Flying Dutchman’.
Bergkamp, airborne on field but not off it!
A lesser known case would be that of a non-footballer, former NFL star Ricky Williams who played for the Baltimore Ravens. Williams had severe social anxiety disorder problems which led to a curtailed social life and meant he couldn’t attend any of the star press conferences held after NFL games.
The amazing part is that despite going through mental turmoil, Williams still managed to have a successful NFL career with the Ravens and has now managed to bring his disability under control.
Williams, smiling his way through problems
And finally a piece on NHL’s Rick Rypien, who lost a long wagering battle with depression in 2011.
Rypien, who played with the Vancouver Canucks, had major depression for 10 years and had taken a break from hockey to deal with it. Rypiens case shows that not all athletes are successful in coming to terms with a disorder or disability and sometimes even professional help is not enough to get their lives back on track.
The Nhl lost a great player in Rypien
So like Navas, Bergkamp, Williams and Rypiens’ cases show, sport will always have its own share of athletes with problems, and the best way to solve it would be to nip it in the bud instead of allowing it to grow and cut short a promising career.
