‘Counselling’ ‘Super Mario‘ (‘Mario Balotelli’) or ‘Roberto Mancini’?
For those of you who may not know we’re talking ‘football‘ these 2 prolific people are; ‘Roberto Mancini‘ Manchester City’s Manager. ‘Mario Balotelli‘ aka ‘Super Mario‘ a striker for Manchester City.
A question for all you ‘Psychotherapists‘ who in your opinion needs ‘counselling‘ - ‘Super Mario’ or ‘Robert Mancini‘?
Apparently following this weekends 3 – 2 loss to Manchester United. ‘Robert Mancini‘ admitted that he needs ‘counselling‘ or ‘psychotherapy‘ after being driven to the edge by the behaviour of ’Super Mario‘.
‘Mancini‘ reckons that ‘Balotelli City‘ player is “doing his head in.”
Mancini also went onto say that “when I played ‘football‘ 15 or 20 years ago players were mentally stronger than they are now,
modern footballers have increased physical strength, speed and stamina but display a decline in their mental robustness – We were hungry back then, we had less money and we wanted to become top players. We were prepared to give up everything..”
After reading this headline I was curious about these two high profile people and what their back grounds were?
Mancini was born in the small town of Jesi, Italy in 1964 but then moved onto the mountain town of Rocadaspida, Italy and was raised by Aldo and Marianna Mancini along with his younger sister, Stephanie. His young life in Jesi revolved around football and his Roman Catholic religion. On one occasion a fixture clashed with his first Holy Communion. Halfway through the ceremony the young 8 year old Mancini was nowhere to be seen. His local priest, who was administering his first communion, heard their team were losing 2–0 at half-time and so he asked a young Mancini quietly after receiving his communion if he had his football kit and boots with him because his team needed him.
As an adult Mancini has been married for nearly 20 years to, Federica. They have a daughter and two sons.
Mario Barwuah Balotelli (born 12 August 1990) is a professional Italian footballer who plays as a striker for English team Manchester City and the Italian national team.
At the age of 3 he was fostered by Francesco and Silvia Balotelli. As an infant Balotelli had life-threatening complications with his intestines which led to a series of operations, although this condition greatly improved, Mario’s health problems and the family’s cramped living conditions meant the Barwuahs decided to ask for the help of social services who recommended that Mario be fostered.
In 1993 Mario was 3 years old when the Barwuah family agreed to entrust him to Francesco and Silvia Balotelli. As Balotelli’s reputation as a footballer grew his biological parents, the Burwuahs, asked for him back…
Balotelli later said that his parents only wanted him back because he had become famous and described them as “glory hunters”.
Love him or loathe him there is no getting away from the fact that he divides opinion within the world of football. Balotelli is credited with pace and technical ability, but criticised for a petulant attitude. He is often nicknamed “Super Mario” and can play anywhere along the front line and is regarded as a promising but difficult young striker.
Many antics have ensued Mario throughout the season some good and some most definitely NOT.
Despite courting controversy on and off the pitch Balotelli has occasionally displayed random acts of kindness and sincerity.
He saw a youngster hanging around outside City’s Carrington training ground and asked the striker for his autograph, but Balotelli was more interested in why the youngster was not at school. After the child told him he was being bullied, Balotelli made arrangements with the boy’s mother and drove them both to the school in question to address the matter.
Another situation saw the Italian coming out of a casino after winning £25,000 in one night. He then gave away £1000 to a lucky homeless person who just happened to be in the right place at the right time.
For me one of his most endearing quotes was when he crashed his car. While the police were checking for any drugs or alcohol in his possession, the police discovered £5,000 in his back pocket. When police asked Mario why he has carrying around so much cash, he replied, “Because I am rich.”
In conclusion it seems somewhat apparent that Roberto had a stable childhood, and I am assuming that he had constant and secure parental involvement with clear rules and boundaries, enabling and establishing consistency whilst encouraging his own responsibility to himself, his family, his career and his subsequent actions.
Mario has not been as privileged as Roberto, for someone who perhaps has experienced a cocktail of emotional distortions, for example; abandonment issues laced with an attachment disorder together with considerable life changing status with immense financial enhancement – is it any wonder that he struggles with seriousness, commitment and responsibility.
Show me any one who has endured similarities who doesn’t like to play the fool, show off, cause controversy or generally act up. The list would be endless.
Don’t get me wrong I’m most definatley NOT colluding or condoning this kind of behaviour but merely accepting that some have not had the best starts in life and with an ‘expert therapist‘ things can improve beyond compare.
So let me ask you, who do you think needs Psychotherapy?
Source: Wikipedia. Guardian.
Dawn Pugh
