Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu says that he wont "Put my tail between my legs and cry" over online comments.
Image: Instagram.
Springbok and Stormers flyhalf Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu is proving he has skin as thick as a rugby ball.
As he prepares to run out for his 50th cap for the Stormers this weekend, he is making it clear that "keyboard warriors" won’t be raining on his parade.
Despite the recent wave of online heat, Feinberg-Mngomezulu is staying cool, calm and collected.
While many would find the social media trolling overwhelming, Feinberg-Mngomezulu is keeping things in perspective by looking at the global stage.
“I see it all (the comments) because I’m on social media, whether I like it or not, it’s in my face. But yeah, I don’t think like it’s something anyone should feel sorry for themselves about. I watch a lot of football, and I can’t imagine what the Real Madrid and Barcelona players get every weekend, he said during a press conference.
He continued: “It’s just important to understand that it’s at a very minute level, and as long as my coaches and teammates are happy with my efforts, especially then, I’ll just let the rest take care of itself.
“I put a lot of hours into my game, whether I’m here at the High Performance Centre or not, so little comments are never going to deter me from where I believe I’m going.
"And just understanding how people get it (online abuse) in other sports is also very important, we get it like this (small scale) compared to the footballers, so (I) mustn’t put my tail between my legs and cry about it, it’s part of the job.”
While Feinberg-Mngomezulu is taking the high road, Stormers director of Rugby John Dobson isn't quite as polite to the trolls.
Dobson recently went viral for the fiery defence of his squad, calling out the "experts sitting in their dressing gowns" who assassinate players' characters from behind a screen.
The tension peaked after a heartbreaking 28–27 loss to Toulon on April 4, where fans pinned the blame on Feinberg-Mngomezulu for not opting for a drop goal.
Dobson wasn't having it, labelling the 24-year-old a "generational talent" and reminding critics of the physical risks these athletes take every single week.
He also said that the team has a "duty of care" to protect younger players from the personal nature of the attacks, which often extend to their families.
Dobson revealed that the relentless online criticism was a primary reason former flyhalf Manie Libbok decided to leave the Stormers for Japan.
He noted that Libbok was "absolutely crucified" by fans and reached a point where he could no longer handle the environment.