News24 | Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu says it best: The Springbok star’s winning mindset for life

Springbok star Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu on staying focused, protecting his energy and why knowing when to pause is part of performing at your best.

Sebastian Frej/Getty Images

• Over the last few weeks, Springbok star Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu has shared lots of words of wisdom with his ample fans.
• In one post, the athlete says external opinions shouldn’t distract you from the work.
• In another, he explains how rest and recovery are part of discipline, not signs of weakness.

Rugby has taught Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu plenty about pressure, discipline and performing under pressure. But the Springboks’ philosophy on life extends well beyond the rugby field.

If his recent posts are anything to go by, Sacha is just as interested in how you handle the noise around you as he is in how hard you work.

One of his recent posts offered a simple reminder for anyone pursuing something that matters to them: “An athlete won’t judge you for working out. A millionaire won’t laugh at you for starting a business. A musician won’t judge you for trying to sing a song.”

His point? The people doing the work are rarely the ones mocking someone else for trying. “It’s always the people going nowhere that have something to say,” he wrote, before adding,“ Stay focused on your path. The rest is external noise.”

It’s a philosophy that fits neatly with what the 24-year-old has previously told News24 about navigating life as a professional athlete – and why learning to switch off can be just as important as pushing harder.

For an athlete operating under the intense scrutiny that comes with playing for the Springboks and the Stormers, protecting that energy means being intentional about what gets his attention.

During a previous conversation with News24, he spoke about the importance of having a strategy for dealing with the constant noise of social media, public expectations and a demanding schedule.“

“The noise, whether it’s social media, public expectations, or a busy schedule, can be overwhelming if you don’t have a strategy to filter it,” he said.

That filtering process is central to his idea of discipline.

“Discipline isn’t just about saying ‘yes’ to the right things, it’s about having the clarity to say ‘no’ to the distraction.”

Stay in your lane

Sacha’s latest posts suggest he’s not particularly interested in letting outside commentary dictate his direction.

“External noise is usually loudest from people furthest from the world,” he wrote. It’s a sentiment that feels particularly relevant in an era when everyone has an opinion – and a platform to share it.

His advice is to consider the source before allowing criticism to get under your skin.

Respect the pause

Sacha’s approach to discipline isn’t simply about working harder or ignoring the haters.

One of the most interesting things he has spoken about is the importance of “respecting the pause” – an idea that challenges the traditional sporting definition of toughness.

Rugby is often associated with physicality, resilience and pushing through pain. Yet Sacha has previously made it clear that he doesn’t believe strength requires constantly performing toughness.

“I know I’m physically capable, so don’t need to act tough,” he said, proudly describing himself as “soft.”

You don’t have to respond to everything

The biggest lesson in Sacha’s philosophy is that not everything deserves a reaction. Before making a big decision or responding to criticism, he says he pauses and asks himself, “Does this align with my goal?”

If it doesn’t, he filters it out.

That might sound simple, but it requires discipline – particularly when social media makes instant reactions almost impossible to avoid.

Keep moving

Another of his long-standing philosophies is equally uncomplicated.

“Put one foot in front of the other, control what you can control, and then you see what the outcome is.”

There’s no guarantee attached to the process – you do the work, control what is within your reach and accept that the outcome may not always be what you hoped for.

Even success doesn’t mean the journey suddenly ends.

“If you win… great. You’re going to have to wake up and do the same journey all over again,” he wrote. It’s one of the most grounded ways to look at achievement: enjoy the win, then get back to the work.”

Let good luck find you

And there’s the line that neatly sums up the relationship between preparation and opportunity.

“Hard work puts you where good luck can find you.”

For a young athlete who has already found himself under the spotlight of international rugby, it’s a fitting philosophy.

In the end, his advice is simple: work hard, protect your energy, ignore unnecessary noise, know when to pause, trust yourself and keep moving. And most importantly, don’t let people who aren’t doing the work convince you to stop doing yours.

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