Estonian footballer Anier talks loneliness, mental health battle during Hong Kong title win, still waiting for new deal
Henri Anier has been fighting loneliness, and battling to remain mentally stable, while firing Lee Man to the club’s first Hong Kong Premier League title.
The Estonian striker, who joined Lee Man last summer from Muangthong United in Thailand, is top of the league scoring charts with 15 goals, but is still waiting to hear about a contract for next season.
And at 33 years old, Anier said it had been the incessant pressure to deliver goals that contributed to an itinerant career, which had taken in 17 clubs in 11 countries.
“It’s been very tough mentally, we had a break from December to February, but I couldn’t go home, and that was not easy,” said Anier, whose family have remained in Estonia.
“Sometimes, there is not enough recognition from the locals for what the foreigners go through. I came here to perform on the field, but need to deal with what’s outside the field, being all alone, by myself in my head. The locals can go to their families, but I came here not knowing anybody.
“Mentally, you need to stay stable. I am very close with my mum, dad, and brother, and I stay in contact with them as much as possible. I do yoga, and meditate after training, to try to keep my mind calm.
“I go out to explore, because I don’t want to sit at home, I have nobody to spend time with that way. I have stayed in a positive mood, the most important thing is to be fit, mentally and physically.”
Anier said a combination of “the climate, bumpy pitches, and always having three or four defenders around me” made scoring goals in Hong Kong a tough gig.
He originally left Estonia for a season with Italian club Sampdoria in 2009, and has played in Norway, Sweden, and Scotland, where his Motherwell side finished runners-up to Premiership champions Celtic in 2014.
“I need to score goals in every training session to be in the team, if I am on the bench, I have to come on to score,” Anier said. “This is what pays my bills.
“As a foreigner, you have pressure to score goals, and provide assists, or you will be out. I come from a small country, and love to work hard. I am always hungry for goals.
“It is not easy in Hong Kong, every team defends deep, and there is not much space. Some big players have come here and struggled.”
Anier, capped 93 times by Estonia, has been fundamental to Lee Man’s title success. He scored twice in the season-defining 4-1 victory over Kitchee last September, and was on target in both 1-1 draws with Eastern. A quickfire first-half double soothed nerves in the title-clinching 6-1 victory over Sham Shui Po on Sunday.
Regardless of those feats, Anier does not know whether he will be at Lee Man next season, and admitted he was “very surprised they’ve not said anything”.
“It is a bit strange, and it has never happened in my career,” he added. “We had a great season, and made history, so I would love to stay and do the same again.”
Anier has three Estonia games before he signs off for summer on June 11, and was intrigued by news of Hong Kong arranging a European friendly with Liechtenstein in October.
“For them to go to Europe is a big thing,” Anier said. “They will get a completely different game, tactically, mentally, and physically. The environment is totally different.
“It is another step forwards for Hong Kong. They have a great head coach [Jorn Andersen], and more players coming through. I would love for Estonia to play against them, too.”
https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3263484/estonian-footballer-anier-talks-loneliness-mental-health-battle-during-hong-kong-title-win-still