Munetsi speaks on mentality

ZIMBABWE international midfielder Marshall Munetsi has shared his insights on the mental side of the game, highlighting the importance of his faith, background and support system.

Discussing the mental side of football with Wolves’ Munetsi, explained how his faith and background has kept him humble after becoming an English Premier League footballer in January.

Mentally preparing for a game . . .

“For me, as a Christian, before everything I do, I always pray. All of my motivation and my confidence comes from God. Even when we win, for me, it’s always about me giving grace to him, and even if we lose, it’s the same. When we read the bible, we know that our lives have already been led by other people.

“They have already been there and have done what we’ve done, so it’s about getting the courage and the mental strength from my religion.”

Beginning match preparations . . .

“When I was younger, I was always told, “You are only as good as your next game.” As soon as you win or as soon as you lose, I’m already thinking about the next game, no matter what the result was.

“No matter if you had a good game or a bad game, you are always thinking about the next game because in football, everything can turn so fast. You can be a bad player in one game and then be a good player in the next, so I think it’s all about being humble while also trying to achieve greater things.”

Recovering from setbacks . . .

“I’m a religious person, so the only thing I can do is pray. Also, the people who are surrounding you, they will always give you courage. You have to rely more on your family and your friends when things are bad, and I think when things are good, people will always be around you. The most important thing is to make sure you are surrounded by the right people. Good people will give you the motivation, the confidence and the focus and drive that you need. Everything else doesn’t matter.”

Staying level-headed after positives . . .

“For me, my background is what keeps me humble. I know where I’ve come from, so nothing else gets me high.

I’ve always tried to live my life in the humblest and simplest way because tomorrow is never promised or guaranteed. Having people around you who also remind you of where you’re coming from and where you want to go, is the most important thing in life.” — wolves.co.uk