There is a person behind every performance

10 October is World Mental Health Day. This day raises awareness around the world that mental health is just as much a part of our overall health as physical well-being, and that it is important to talk about mental health challenges. One of the key messages of the day is that no one has to face their struggles alone, and that asking for help is not a sign of weakness, but a form of self-care.

Call your friends, reach out to your family members, and ask them sincerely: How are you? Really, how are you? Make time for one another, listen, and check in even when everything seems fine at first glance. We do not always have to offer solutions; sometimes it means a great deal simply to know that someone is paying attention, listening, and that we are not alone. Take a moment to pause amid the rush of everyday life, reach out to one another, and show that we care. Sometimes a simple conversation can make all the difference.

All of this is particularly important in sport. Performance pressure, competition, injuries, setbacks, expectations and the need to constantly adapt can place a significant mental burden on athletes. Supporting an athlete today therefore goes far beyond physical preparation: mental well-being, emotional balance and appropriate professional support are equally integral parts of professional sport.

Why is this important to ZTE FC?

We believe that the strength of a football club cannot be measured solely by its results on the pitch. A team is also a community: people work together towards a common goal, while each individual faces their own challenges, feelings and difficulties.

In professional sport, it is particularly easy to focus exclusively on performance. How many points have we earned? How did we play? Who started, who made a mistake, who decided the match? These are all important questions in football, but behind every performance there is a person.

That is why we believe it is important to support our players not only on the pitch and through physical preparation. Mental health deserves an equally important place in the everyday life of a professional football club.

A new specialist joins the professional staff

In line with this philosophy, our club is taking another important step: for the first time in ZTE FC's history, a full-time sports psychologist is joining the professional staff.

The decision is based on a simple idea: we want to provide our players with a professional environment in which they can perform at their best, both as athletes and as people.

The sports psychologist will work alongside the team as an integral member of the professional staff. The aim is not to make this support available only when a problem arises. Rather, we want to establish an approach in which mental preparation, self-awareness, stress management, concentration, coping with performance pressure and maintaining emotional balance are just as much a part of daily work as training, recovery and tactical preparation.

Just as a player needs a fitness coach to achieve the right physical condition and professional guidance to develop as a footballer, a specialist can also play an important role in mental preparation.

Ricardo Pires – international experience in sports psychology

The club's new sports psychologist, Ricardo Pires, previously played professional football himself. During his playing career, he competed in the Portuguese and Bulgarian top divisions. After retiring from professional football, he began studying psychology and earned his master's degree in 2018.

He subsequently worked as a sports psychologist at SL Benfica's renowned football academy. He later collaborated with several of the club's senior teams, including the men's volleyball and futsal teams, as well as the women's football team for one season.

Over the past three years, he has worked as the sports psychologist for Casa Pia AC's professional men's football team, which competes in Portugal's top division. He is also involved in UEFA coaching education programmes in Portugal, delivering sports psychology training for football coaches.

“My main goal is to make psychological support a natural and valued part of everyday life at ZTE FC, rather than something that is only needed in difficult situations. I would like to work with players individually, support the professional staff and help create an environment where mental health can be discussed openly.

With World Mental Health Day in mind, my message is simple: maintaining mental well-being is just as much a part of being a professional athlete as physical preparation. Asking for help is not a sign of weakness, but a sign of strength.

The fans also have an important role to play. Creating a supportive atmosphere in which players feel safe and comfortable talking about their difficulties benefits everyone – both on and off the pitch,” said Ricardo Pires when discussing his role and goals at ZTE FC.

On World Mental Health Day, we therefore want not only to raise awareness of an important issue, but also to take concrete steps towards making mental health an even greater priority in the daily operations of ZTE FC.

“Football is decided as much in the mind as it is on the pitch. The role of a sports psychologist is not only to provide help when a problem arises, but also to make players' mental preparation a natural part of everyday life, just like physical training.

This includes managing pressure, maintaining concentration, processing setbacks and difficulties, and improving communication within the team. Thanks to my daily presence, players will be able to rely on me as a specialist they know well, trust and can turn to not only in times of crisis.

This represents another important element of professional practice, supporting both the players' performance and their mental well-being. Maintaining mental health is not a separate task, but an integral part of sustainable, high-level athletic performance,” added Ricardo Pires.

We want to send an important message on the pitch, too

As part of World Mental Health Day, we also want to raise awareness of the importance of open conversations about mental health within the football community at our home league match against Nyíregyháza Spartacus FC.

We are preparing several initiatives connected to the match to bring the subject closer to our supporters, our players and everyone who belongs to the ZTE FC community.

Our players will take to the pitch wearing specially designed sweatshirts that highlight the importance of mental health. We encourage you to stay in your seats after the final whistle and join the players for the traditional post-match high-fives, as the team will be handing out the specially designed sweatshirts to lucky supporters!

We believe that supporting mental health is a shared responsibility, and that alongside performance on the pitch, how we show up for one another matters, too.