I fell into depression, says Swallows winger

Swallows winger Tumelo Khutlang has opened up on how his nightmarish stint with the club has left him battling depression.

The Lesotho international is yet to receive his salary since February this year and has since left for his home country.

He claims he is owed R1 million in unpaid wages and signing-on fees.

The case has been reported to the PSL, and he awaits the outcome. 

“I am not training; I stopped training altogether.

“This has affected me greatly mentally, and over the last three months, I fell into depression and fell out of football,” he told FARPost.

KHUTLANG SPEAKS…

“I don’t watch football; I won’t tell you who is playing right now. I am not an evil person.

“But you know when you see they are playing, you end up wishing something bad on them.

Khutlang arrived in Lesotho three weeks ago, as things were getting tough for him in South Africa, doing nothing all day. 

His representatives advised him to return home, be surrounded by people familiar to him, and see if that cannot help him mentally.

DEPRESSED…

“You know you don’t realise you have depression until something happens. I think we all do,” he said.

“At first, I was okay, I was meeting people and talking, but then when you are alone, reality hits.

“It was getting worse because for us black people, when you get exposed to something better; it means you can support your family.

“I have a family I support; they have no idea about football. All they knew was that I support them through football,” he continued.

“If I was giving them R1 every month, then I get a half salary, and I have to give 75 cents, they don’t even understand what I am saying.

Khutlang and his advisers will consider whether to drag the club to FIFA if they cannot find a solution through the PSL. 

Swallows appealed after Khutlang won the case recently. With the issue still not resolved, the Dikuena winger cannot train with any club. 

His standoff with the club threatens his place in the national team.

However, at at the moment, he says he does not care.

He is focused on getting his money, clearance and moving on.

He joined Swallows from Black Leopards in August 2021 on a two-year deal with an option for renewal. Khutlang struggled to get game time at the Soweto side.

FARPost’s repeated attempts to get a comment from Swallows were unsuccessful.

The club’s media officer Sibonelo Mathenjwa could not provide a response to questions sent via email and on WhatsApp eight days ago.