INTERVIEW: Egypt striker Kouka discusses importance of mental health, positive support system

Egypt international Ahmed Hassan ‘Kouka’ talked about the misconceptions surrounding mental health in the Middle East and the importance of having a good support system during an interview with Asrar El-Nafs.

Asrar El-Nafs is a show created and hosted by Ally Salama, founder of EMPWR Mag, the first Mental Health Magazine in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).

The show aims to raise awareness on mental health issues by interviewing MENA celebrities to talk about their experiences and give their opinions on the topic which is often stigmatized in the region.

In collaboration with Neya and 199X, Asrar El-Nafs encourages its audience to donate to the EMPWR fund which looks provide adequate mental health resources for youth in Egypt by training youth leaders, providing mental health resources and much more.

During the second episode, Ally Salama interviewed Olympiacos and Egypt national team striker Ahmed Hassan ‘Kouka’ and discussed the importance of increasing awareness regarding this topic in Egypt.

“Mental health is a really important issue as it can affect your daily life and people around you such as friends and family. It’s something that people should take seriously,” said Kouka.

“As a footballer there’s always a lot of pressure on you, so if you’re not well prepared mentally it’s going to be really hard.

“In my case I try to always remain positive and try to avoid any sort of negative energy. Because if I’m not in a good mental state it will heavily affect my performance,” he added.

The SC Braga loanee then talked about the significance of having a strong support system to help you get through difficult periods.

“In Egypt, if someone is feeling down we just pray for him and hope that his issues disappear. Obviously, having faith in God is really important but I believe what these people need is support whether it’s from a family member, a friend or even a stranger.

“When you’re looking for a good support system you have to know the person you’re talking to and make sure they know what they’re talking about.

“For instance as a footballer when I’m looking for support or advice it’s better that I ask a person within the field, like Mohamed Salah as he’s a role model for everyone, rather than a normal fan or even a close friend.

“People tend to think that football players are always happy and that everything is easy as they make good money and do something they love but it’s not as easy as you might think.

“For example, personally I had a lot of surgeries, due to injuries. So during the three-four months of recovery it’s crucial to have a strong support system.

“But if you want this support you have to be there for other people as well. Even a small ‘get well soon’ message to someone you might not know very well, will give them a lot of positive energy,” Kouka explained.

READ: Kouka discusses potential future return to Al Ahly

The 24-year-old then went on to encourage people to avoid negativity in their lives by surrounding themselves with people who lift them up.

He also disclosed his own personal experience and how having a positive vibe can help you overcome many difficulties. Kouka then tried to prod people into being more open-minded and not be afraid of opening up about mental health issues.

“The key of being in a good mental state is to try and isolate yourself from any sort of negativity. You shouldn’t let this negative energy change your mood,” he continued.

“You have to be able to know your abilities and choose wisely who are the closest people to you.

“Footballers have a very specific routine and meet a lot of people everyday and I think to go through it you have to always remain positive and take things lightly as much as you can.

“We all have issues and there’s nothing embarrassing about that. But we must be able to share and take other people’s opinions.

“The worst thing in my opinion is when people keep stacking up a lot of these negative thoughts and issues instead of going to an expert or someone they know,” he added.

Kouka then explained the influence that footballers have on their audience and how they should try to better themselves to become better role models.

“Public personalities such as footballers, actors, singers, etc., have huge followings in Egypt.

“And as Hossam Ghaly once told us once during a national team camp, we are role models for a lot of people (especially kids), and how we portray ourselves on social media, on the pitch and infront of the camera will highly affect their behavior.

“So it’s really important for us to talk about these issues so that they know its importance and try to have a good support system and remain in a good mental space.

“We don’t know what people around us go through so I think that we should leave a positive mark on them as much as we can.

“Many people go through a lot of problems that we can’t even imagine happening to us, so we have to know what we can and cannot say. We have to know that with one word you can destroy them or help build their confidence,” he concluded.

To checkout the full interview listen to the Asrar El-Nafs podcast; they’re on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Anghami and Soundcloud below: