Players soldier through Ramadan

Sport
From June 29 until last Sunday, Muslims around the world were observing the Islamic month of fasting, Ramadan.

From June 29 until last Sunday, Muslims around the world were observing the Islamic month of fasting, Ramadan.

BY MICHAEL MADYIRA

Pleasures of smoking and sex are not allowed during this ninth month of the Islamic calendar which is dedicated to prayers and obligatory fasting as well as reciting the Quran.

Suspending normal consumption of food and liquids might be against bodily demands but sportspersons have to endure the fasting from dawn to sunset.

The number of Muslims is increasing in sport, especially football. Frank Ribery, Nicholas Anelka, Kolo and Yaya Toure, Demba Ba, Samir Nasri, Edin Dzeko, Mesut Ozil, Karim Benzima and Kevin Prince-Boateng are some of the world star footballers who practise Islam.

A few local Muslim footballers also have to bear with Ramadan. Silas Songani, Khama Billiat, Takunda Sadiki and Qadr Amini are among Zimbabwean footballers who are Muslims.

They have to endure 90 minutes of rigorous activity on empty stomachs.

This year’s Ramadan was Songani’s first on foreign land and his teammates at Danish Superliga side Sonderjyske, Burkinabe Adama Guira and Nigerian midfielder Adigun Salami helped him pull through.

At Harare City he was the only player practising the Muslim religion.

“I thank God for guiding me through Ramadan. That is the time when one faces all sorts of temptations but I managed to overcome that,” said Songani.

While at Inter Milan five years ago, Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho offended Muslims after suggesting, that Sulley Muntari was performing below-par due to the effects of Ramadan taking a toll on him.

But Songani says his game is not affected when fasting. “You do not feel anything while you are playing but there is some discomfort in the body after the match,” he said.

Songani was schooled at Aces Youth Soccer Academy where together with Billiat and Sadiki, they used to attend the Waterfalls Masjid.

Aces head coach Expense Chitukutuku, is not surprised to see the players not affected by fasting during this demanding stage of their professional careers since they used to do that during academy days.

“They were young boys by then but you could see no difference when they were fasting. They would go about their business without facing any problems,” said Chitukutuku.

It is not only playing on empty stomachs that is a challenge for footballers during Ramadan, but staying humble in aggressive game situations.

There would be need to control tempers during hostile moments where a quick reaction would be required.

When provoked during matches, FC Platinum wingback Amini has to avoid swearing and arguing, acts which are against the dictates of Ramadan.

“Sometimes you just have to control your anger during a match. There are too many situations that require fast reactions, for example when you are at the end of a nasty tackle. You do not have to remonstrate with the referee as well,” said Amini.

When others drink water during matches, Muslim players have to defeat the temptation brought by excessive thirst.

But Amini has a trick for that.

“I take a lot of water during suhoor [the pre-dawn breakfast],” he said.

“I just pour water on my head for cooling. Besides, I was born a Muslim so I am used to training and playing while fasting. It is not painful to me anymore. Most of my teammates are always surprised that I am fasting. But I get extremely hungry after a match.”

Amini managed to score while fasting in the fiercely-contested Zvishavane league derby against FC Platinum on July 12 to help his side win 2-1.

He was however unfortunately injured during that game.

But if one fails to complete a day’s fasting due to various factors like work commitments or succumbing to temptation, they have to compensate for it on another day after Ramadan.

A strict devotee since childhood, Amini always travels with his Quran, even outside Ramadan and attends the Mandava Masjid.

Some coaches however, like Mourinho, might not be comfortable with their star players playing while fasting.

But recently the Portuguese coach had to respect Egyptian forward Mohamed Salah who explains how challenging it was for him during Ramadan.

“Ramadan was a bit difficult for me because we had two training sessions every day, the weather was very hot and I played in every game,” Salah told Chelsea’s website on Friday.

“I wasn’t even able to drink water until 9.30pm. Although I am used to it, it’s finished now and I can eat and drink as normal. When you train twice a day your energy levels drop by the second session, but it means a lot to me so I’m very happy and I feel good.”

But Amini feels blessed to have coaches who tolerate his religion, saying he has never faced any problems since his Gunners days. “I have been fortunate that my coaches have always understood me,” Amini said.

FC Platinum coach Lloyd Mutasa respects every religion after also encountering Muslim players during his stint as coach of Swazi side Green Mamba.

Mutasa himself is a member of an apostolic sect and fasting is not new to him.

“I respect every player’s religion and I used to coach two Muslim guys in Swaziland so I have no problem with them playing while fasting,” said Mutasa.

“It is just a matter of having your body system getting used to it. As for Qadr, he always does well during Ramadan and look, he scored against Shabanie Mine. You cannot tell the difference during such a time. He is always a workaholic.”