Orlando Pirates Player Nkanyiso Zungu Admits Having Depression and Stress as Loan Move to Richards Bay Starts

• Issues of mental health continue to affect professional sportsmen and sportswomen like the rest of the normal population
• This time, it was Orlando Pirates player Nkanyiso Zungu to come forward and reveal his struggles with depression and stress
• Zungu is one of several players who the Buccaneers chose not to sell but put on loan to help restart their careers

Orlando Pirates attacking midfielder Nkanyiso Zungu has courageously revealed that he is dealing with mental health issues.

The 26-year-old Zungu was recently sent out on loan to DStv Premiership new-boys Richards Bay FC, which won last season's GladAfrica Championship.

He said to the Daily Sun:

"Sometimes there are things that happen behind the scenes like depression. I had depression and stress and that is partly the reason I found myself in things I shouldn't have been involved in. But now I'm okay and I just want to play football, and that is what I want now."

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IOL reported in March that Zungu was arrested for allegedly assaulting his girlfriend. The club then arrested him, awaiting the outcome of an investigation by the police. The charges were later dropped, with the woman in question choosing instead to file a restraining order against until mediation between the two was completed.

He arrived at Pirates from Stellenbosch FC in 2019, but has been seriously starved of game time, making only 21 appearances for the team in three years.

Zungu added:

"Beside the spotlight, you have to respect yourself, regardless of which team you play for. To all those who used to believe in me, should continue to believe in me."

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Football

There has been more player movement out of Orlando Pirates as expected during the off-season.

As reported by Sports Brief, four players will go out on loan, with one leaving on a permanent basis as the squad receives a revamp ahead of the 2022/23 campaign.

Midfielder Nkanyiso Zungu will head out to DStv Premiership new boys Richards Bay FC on loan, as well as defender Bongani Sam to Maritzburg United in the same capacity as a loanee.