Kaizer Chiefs sporting director Kaizer Motaung Jnr has confirmed that players, including their families, are receiving psychological assistance and counselling after the passing of defender Luke Fleurs.
Fleurs was gunned down during a car hijacking incident at a petrol station in Florida, west of Johannesburg, two weeks ago.
The defender is set to be laid to rest on Saturday in Cape Town. This will be a day before Amakhosi entertains Richards Bay in a DStv Premiership match. The match is scheduled to take place at the King Zwelithini Stadium on Sunday.
Expert psychologists roped in to help players, families and Fleur’s family
During an interview with the media recently, Motaung Jnr said that Chiefs have partnered with health insurance organisation Kaelo. The company provides physical and psychological services, among other things. This partnership is aimed at giving players and the Fleurs family support in dealing with the tragic loss.
“We are very fortunate to have a partner like Kaelo. An organisation that offers psychiatric assistance and counselling at times like this,” Motaung Jnr said.
“They have been our partner for a number of years. And what is great about them is they have come on board. Not just to offer counselling to the players, but to their families, extended family and Luke’s family.
“So, to be very fair, they have been a great partner. And … something that has really helped the group of players was Dr Henning Gericke. That is part of the reason why he was brought on at the beginning of the season.
Clinical psychologist
“He is from a clinical psychologist background. …Because of his background, he has been able to have many sessions with the players. He has been able to sit down with them on a private level without the club being involved. To be able to share and put together programmes for them.
“So, with this one it’s a two-pronged approach, because you just hope to get it right. And I think from the club side, we are willing to provide all the support we can. But I think Kaelo has been a special partner. And Dr Henning has played a very important role for us.”
One of the Amakhosi players who has benefited from the arrival of Dr Gericke is goalkeeper Brandon Petersen,. He was said to be receiving special psychological care following a string of goalkeeping errors at the start of the season.
Chiefs roped in the former Springboks psychologist as a high-performance coach early in September. This was during the trying times under the leadership of Molefi Ntseki.
