Gavin Bazunu: The mental fortitude required to deal with being a top-level goalkeeper

In the days after Southampton’s 5-0 hammering against Sunderland, a popular Saints fanzine posted an article titled ‘It’s time to talk about Gavin Bazunu.’ And unfortunately for the young Irish goalkeeper, it wasn’t for positive reasons.

Following relegation in his first season at the club – they finished bottom of the Premier League – the English south coast club failed to make the strong start to the season on their return to the championship that their supporters had hoped for.

Currently, they lie 10th in the table but only second from bottom Rotherham United have conceded more goals after 11 games.

Of course, the blame for that should not fall solely on the goalkeeper and although Bazunu accepts that often comes with the territory, his focus – as ever – is just on improving each day.

“It can be difficult because of the reach of social media these days, sometimes it’s impossible to stay away from it,” said Bazunu.

“You don’t want to have a complete blackout because then you never learn to take it on and be able to almost block it out.

“You have people around you and I think young players now have to work, not just on your technique and your tactics, it’s the mental side of the game that’s a massive part if a player is performing consistently at a high level.

“Every player you see out here performing at a high level has different mental tactics and mental fortitude to work against blocking those things out.

“Finding that balance is a massive part of it because at the end of the day we’re footballers but we’re all human beings and you have to be able to live your life outside of football.

“I do have someone I work with both in and outside of the club and a lot of people around me in my circle who I listen to a lot and