How Senegal man Biteye dey use football therapy to score mental health goals

Dem dey call am Mr Mad Man Coach. For most places, anywhere even, dat kind name fit be inappropriate.

But Malick Biteye don turn wetin for many people for begin fit be mockery to something wey resemble respect. Mr Mad Man Coach don become name wey dey recognise the work wey e don dey do for football pitches across Dakar for almost ten years.

Biteye, wey be social worker, dey coach people wey get mental illness. For am, football no be only therapy wey dey the side. E don build correct team over the years, dey pick dem from psychiatric hospitals and homes around Senegal capital, and e dey follow protocols wey dem borrow from international mental health football committees.

Dem players dey train regular, dem dey compete for abroad, and dem don form strong bond to the level say some wey dey disappear from their homes for days still dey show for practice.

Wetin start as one man strong belief — say sport fit give something wey medicine alone no fit give — don turn to team wey officially dey represent Senegal for international competitions.

Wetn make Biteye mission even more striking be say e dey operate without any government support, though e dey worry how long e fit continue with the work.

'I get three pikin to raise; e go hard to continue the project if I no get job or partner wey go back us,' e tell TRT Afrika.

How e find purpose

Biteye journey reach where e dey now no be plan biko. After secondary school finish, e travel Italy, train as healthcare assistant and collect new perspectives wey change how e dey see things.

'I dey always friendly with pikin and my neighbours,' e talk. 'When I come back to Senegal, I want dey involved for community projects.'

The new idea to form football team wey go include people wey dey battle psychiatric disorders take years before e materialise.

Contrary to how social media blow the story after the project start, to build the foundation e require plenty patience — to identify potential players, approach families and earn the trust of communities wey still get stigma against mental illness.

'Medical clearance and family consent dey important for our recruitment process,' Biteye explain.

How dem build structure

Biteye labour of love, Thérapie Foot, don grow over the years to become organisation wey get structured management team.

Two other coaches dey work with the young founder, dem dey follow protocols from the International Football Committee on Mental Health wey dem design to increase the therapeutic effect of sport for people wey dey suffer psychiatric disorders.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) talk say physical activity 'reduces the risk of mental disorders' and 'helps to interrupt negative thoughts associated with stress, depression, and anxiety'.

For the pitch, Biteye method no different from how top-level coaches dey operate.

Training sessions get established rules. Matches get structure. The atmosphere remain friendly, but discipline matter, and coaches dey watch each player's needs. Biteye believe say to balance structure with empathy na wetin make the programme work.

'Sometimes the boys run away from home and dem dey waka street. Dem fit stay outside for days without entering house, but dem no dey miss training,' e tell TRT Afrika, voice full small pride. 'Plus, dem form lively group of friends wey love football.'

Money challenge

The Thérapie Foot squad dey regularly represent Senegal for international competitions for psychiatric patients. But formal government backing no dey. For Biteye, wey don fund much of the work from im pocket with small help from some partners, the situation don become hard to sustain.

'When you dey committed and you sabi say e fit benefit whole population and change lives, you no fit give up,' e talk. 'But without steady support, to be honest, e really tough.'

E pause, release long sigh and shake head when dem ask if e get plan to manage the crisis.

Wetin make am worry get reason. For 2018, the team suppose travel Italy for international competition but money no reach and the trip fail. Some parents, wey vex and frustrated, remove their wards from the programme.

This November, football world body FIFA and the International Football Committee on Mental Health dey organise World Cup for psychiatric patients for Morocco. Biteye dey dream to carry him players go there make dem get the experience.

But even dream need money, and right now that goal look far from reach for Biteye.