ISL 2022: Indian Football’s team’s starman and skipper of the nation Sunil Chhetri took to social media to point out the difficulties that a footballer faces and experiences in these tough times.
The Covid-19 pandemic shook the entire world and made it circle in loops of lockdowns, precautions, and other necessary protocols. Naturally, the world of sports too was affected by this. However, after undertaking numerous precautions and protocols, the tournaments all across the world commenced. The same applies to the Indian Super League, aka the ISL too.
ISL 2022: Virat Kohli’s good friend Sunil Chhetri speaks out against bubble-fatigue, says ‘Up for a chat with players to deal with mental fatigue’
All the teams that take part in the nation’s elite tier of competition have to undergo a series of steps from registering to the last day of the competition. All the players, coaching, and managerial staff is required to undergo isolation of a mandatory of 14 days.
The hardest struggle for the players begins once the tournament begins. All the players and everyone associated with the clubs and the leagues are required to stay in the bio bubble. Eminent players have often taken to social media to speak about the hardships and struggle that one experiences in the bio bubble and today, the Indian skipper Sunil Chhetri wrote about the mental fatigue that a player experiences.
At 3.00 pm on a game day, the gears begin to switch in anticipation of kick off. Instead, here we are, in our rooms wishing things around could have been better. It’s a difficult season. It was always going to be one.
— Sunil Chhetri (@chetrisunil11) January 15, 2022
Sunil appealed to any player of the ISL rooster to drop him a message if the latter feels mentally drained. Taking to social media, Sunil wrote on a micro-blogging site as to how players prepare themselves on a matchday and how the mentality of a player changes, and the preparedness for a game set in. However, with his game being postponed the India captain had nowhere to go but to remain alone in his room in the bio bubble.
ISL 2022: Virat Kohli’s good friend Sunil Chhetri speaks out against bubble-fatigue, says ‘Up for a chat with players to deal with mental fatigue’
Living in the bio bubble is extremely strenuous for any player as it starts to drain their mental strength. Once a player enters the bio bubble, he is not allowed to leave until the tournament gets completed. Sunil pointed out that players are extremely affected on their mental level as they have to stay away from their families for almost half a year. Apart from the practice sessions and match days, the players are confined to their rooms, with no outside activity.
Sunil Chhetri also wrote about the sacrifices and the struggles that a player does while playing in the tournament. He also stated that surviving the bubble is tough, and moreover, the players have no sort of prior training as to how to cope with living under such conditions.
In these dark times, mental health should be monitored alongside physical health and the same applies to these players as well. Even a little act of discussing one’s problem with another can be extremely beneficial for a person. As a result, Sunil has urged players to come forward and speak with him.
ISL 2022: Virat Kohli’s good friend Sunil Chhetri speaks out against bubble-fatigue, says ‘Up for a chat with players to deal with mental fatigue’
Indian Cricket team skipper Virat Kohli, a good friend of Sunil too spoke about the ill effects of the bio bubble on the mental health of players in a press conference. “Important to refresh mentally. To practice in a place where we didn’t have a structured environment or with no cameras makes a huge difference. To maintain the quality we must consider such things. Managing workload is more important from the mental point of view.” said the Indian skipper last month.
Sunil was supposedly to play in the ISL match for Bengaluru FC against ATK Mohun Bagan. However, the scheduled match was postponed due to a covid outbreak in the Mariners camp. This is the second match in a row that has been postponed for the Kolkata giants, the previous game being against Odisha Football Club on January 8.
Mental fatigue is not something that should be left untreated and uncared for a long time. Professional and medical help should be sought at the earliest.
ISL 2022: Virat Kohli’s good friend Sunil Chhetri speaks out against bubble-fatigue, says ‘Up for a chat with players to deal with mental fatigue’
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