Muslim footballers

[emclub]

Masha'Allah a good read

Ramadan offers a unique challenge as footballers train and play while their normal eating habits are suspended Clubs increasingly like to control every aspect of their players' fitness, testing them weekly, providing individual exercise plans and dictating diet. Sometimes, however, outside influences come into play. For the increasing number of Muslims in the Premier and Football League, normal eating habits are currently suspended, for this is the month of Ramadan. During Ramadan, which runs from 1 to 29 August this year, devotees are expected to refrain from taking in food or liquid, smoking and sex, from before sunrise until sundown. This is intended to teach patience, spirituality, humility and submissiveness to Allah. It is one of the five pillars of Islam, the others being a declaration of faith, giving to charity, praying the five daily prayers and the Haj pilgrimage to Mecca. Managers and coaches may question the wisdom of a footballer having to train and play when fasting, but this is something that Muslims know is part of their life. Some, like the former Tottenham and West Ham striker, Frédéric Kanouté, are strict observers. Kanouté, now at Seville, has been a practising Muslim since the age of 20. His faith, insists Kanouté, has never presented itself as a problem in his relationship with the coaching staff, team-mates or fans. But when it comes to Ramadan, they pepper him with questions. "They're quite curious, yes. They wonder why I don't eat and ask all these questions, but you have to answer them. It's good also because it's witnessing the religion and we can talk about that. They see me praying in the dressing room, I don't think of how people look at me, I'm just natural and it's my way. "Islam has helped me to be this way, so this is normal. It's a path you take to keep you calm, to help you think about the place you live in, to love your neighbour. It's strange when I hear about all these problems of terrorism because it's the opposite of what I understood for Islam." In a diverse Premier League, an increasing number of players are followers of Islam. You'll see them cup their hands in silent prayer before kick-off, then brush them over their face. Kolo and Yaya Touré, Nicolas Anelka and Samir Nasri are all talented players who would not want any fuss over their faith, but during the month of Ramadan, games can become even more of a challenge than usual. In 2009, after only half an hour of Inter's 1-1 draw with Bari, the fasting Sulley Muntari was substituted, with manager Jose Mourinho stating that Ramadan had "not arrived at the ideal moment for a player to play a football match". His comments drew widespread criticism, which Mourinho later clarified by saying: "Muntari's decision is not to be criticised because it is a question of faith and religion. That means that I accept it. I never said Muntari should forget his religion and practice." Some players compromise. Anelka has said that he initially fasted in daylight hours as prescribed, but "I realised I often got injured just after the period of Ramadan, so I don't observe it strictly any more". A similar approach is followed by Arsenal striker Marouane Chamakh. "I have no problem fasting during Ramadan, it becomes normal. The day before a game and on match days I do not fast, but I'll make up the lost days later." Ipswich striker Nathan Ellington converted to Islam seven years ago, and has just set up the Association of Muslim Footballers, whose purpose is to inform non-believers. He said educating the footballing authorities will help alleviate the type of comments that Mourinho came out with, which he described as "unfair". Ellington added: "When I'm playing, I won't fast, but I'll make up for the missed day afterwards. For training, there's not a problem either, as you can get your hydration and nutrients with the suhoor [the early pre-dawn breakfast] which then helps. The only difference is afterwards when the rest of the players go off [to eat] and you have to hang on for a while longer, until the iftar meal at sunset." The Millwall winger Hameur Bouazza admitted fasting can be problematic, but said it was part of his faith. "I'm proud to be a Muslim. I'm not going to say [combining fasting and football] is easy. Ramadan is hard, and I try to do my best every time. You know God is there to help us, we believe in him and he believes in us as well. We just need to pray and believe in him." The issue of fasting and playing is a tricky one with the religious needs of the player somewhat at odds with the footballing needs of his manager and the club. Until now, there have not been any defining guidelines on the issue, but as more Muslim players find a place in the top leagues of Europe the issue of fasting during the holy month – which arrives annually 10 days earlier than the previous year – will not be going away. Premier League Muslims Marouane Chamakh, Abou Diaby, Samir Nasri (left), Bacary Sagna, Armand Traoré Arsenal Habib Beye Aston Villa Nicolas Anelka, Salomon Kalou Chelsea Marouane Fellaini (left) Everton Hatem Ben Arfa, Cheick Tioté Newcastle Edin Dzeko (left), Kolo Touré, Yaya Touré Manchester City Adel Taarabt Queen's Park Rangers Ahmed Elmohamady Sunderland Younes Kaboul (left) Tottenham Youssuf Mulumbu West Bromwich Ali Al Habsi, Mohamed Diame Wigan http://www.independent.co.uk/news/a2342187.html

[AZ]

Momo Sissoko also faced this issue for us, was giving some awful performances for us during Ramadan.

[Gujar]

I believe Mourinho also had an issue with Muntari fasting whilst he was at Inter. Alhamdulillah Allah SWT has made us stronger than we sometimes realise.

[Amir]

Tiote is Muslim!!! Geordie you know what thread we need to bust out....

[Geordie Ahmed]

Originally Posted by Amir Tiote is Muslim!!! Geordie you know what thread we need to bust out....

haha - actually I have not seen any conclusive proof about Tiote, has had interviews BUT no mention of it yet, nor have their been any sightings at any of the Masjids (yet)

BUT for the sake of that thread we have ourselves a top defensive midfielder

Also the list in the OP has missed out Demba Ba

[Geordie Ahmed]

Originally Posted by Gujar I believe Mourinho also had an issue with Muntari fasting whilst he was at Inter. Alhamdulillah Allah SWT has made us stronger than we sometimes realise.

to be fair to Mourinho I understand what he was getting at, his initial comments were on the face of it not right BUT he did clarify it later on

No doubts Ramadhan can't be ideal for professional footballers BUT that is something each player has to deal with

[Geordie Ahmed]

I was not aware of Dzeko being muslim

[emclub]

Originally Posted by Geordie Ahmed I was not aware of Dzeko being muslim

Bosnian, many Muslims

[Obeid]

Diniyar Bilyaletdinov is muslim as well I believe...

[PakFan2010]

Kaboul !

[Gujar]

Don't forget the 'rumour' world's favourite Muslim, Robin Van Persie.

[Uzi]

Kanoute, when he played for Tottenham used to go to the same mosque that I attend.

Would see him on Friday for Jummah. Very nice guy.

[Theo_14]

Originally Posted by Geordie Ahmed I was not aware of Dzeko being muslim

Quite surprised with that one. Didn't even imagine that Dzeko would be a muslim.

I remember there was a rumour that RVP was a muslim BUT that was false - his wife is a practicing muslim, not RVP.

I think Ben Arfa must be the only one fasting amongs those PL footballers listed, considering he's out for a while.

[ehtesham]

Originally Posted by Theo_14 Quite surprised with that one. Didn't even imagine that Dzeko would be a muslim. I remember there was a rumour that RVP was a muslim BUT that was false - his wife is a practicing muslim, not RVP. I think Ben Arfa must be the only one fasting amongs those PL footballers listed, considering he's out for a while.

dzeko was the biggest surprise imo along ben arfa, nasri is another muslim who fasts.... didn't he leave arsenal games during last ramadhan coz he had to fast??

[Theo_14]

Originally Posted by ehtesham dzeko was the biggest surprise imo along ben arfa, nasri is another muslim who fasts.... didn't he leave arsenal games during last ramadhan coz he had to fast??

I'm not sure about Nasri - I don't he fasts during Ramadhan anyways, he's not a practicing muslim.

However Chamakh does fast - he once mentioned it in a interview on Al-jazeera... I think it's alright for him to fast considering he comes on as a sub for most of the tme.

However this makes me think - Chamakh had a awful game last week, surprisingly he started... Was he fasting? Something to think about.

[ehtesham]

Originally Posted by Theo_14 I'm not sure about Nasri - I don't he fasts during Ramadhan anyways, he's not a practicing muslim. However Chamakh does fast - he once mentioned it in a interview on Al-jazeera... I think it's alright for him to fast considering he comes on as a sub for most of the tme. However this makes me think - Chamakh had a awful game last week, surprisingly he started... Was he fasting? Something to think about.

yea chamakh does..... i heard him say somewhere dat he fast's regularly but leave's 2...... 1 before match day n 1 on match day n then makes up for it later

[zayn]

Just watching the Match of the Day highlights and Demba Ba went down into Sajdah after scoring his first goal very under-rated footballer as proven by his hat-trick today against Blackburn.

[Geordie Ahmed]

Originally Posted by zayn Just watching the Match of the Day highlights and Demba Ba went down into Sajdah after scoring his first goal very under-rated footballer as proven by his hat-trick today against Blackburn.

Yes he is a Muslim, has also been observing Ramadan which is why he did not feature too much at the start BUT he looks very sharp now

I loved that celebration of his, reminds me of when Emre did a sajdah after scoring against Reading

[attock]

It was in a paper that RVP converted to Islam..........

Anelka also converted to Islam....Was seen in a Masjid alongside Diouf in Bolton by a friend of mine a number of times......Heard he (Anelka) use to fast when he was at city and the Manager at that time was not happy.

[TAK]

first time i have seen a sajda on a football pitch

ba for the ba codes

[Geordie Ahmed]

Originally Posted by TAK first time i have seen a sajda on a football pitch ba for the ba codes

Emre did it against Reading, it is certainly different seeing it on a footy pitch

[TAK]

Originally Posted by Geordie Ahmed Emre did it against Reading, it is certainly different seeing it on a footy pitch

never seen that before

it becomes almost a team sajda

so there have been 2 in england

both at st. james??

[Geordie Ahmed]

Originally Posted by TAK never seen that before it becomes almost a team sajda so there have been 2 in england both at st. james??

They are the 2 that I am aware of, well 3 in total because Demba Ba did it twice (for the 1st and 2nd goal) and I think he would have done it for the 3rd BUT he was not sure if Best got a touch on it

Hallowed turf is Wor St James'

[TAK]

Originally Posted by Geordie Ahmed Hallowed turf is Wor St James'

sajdahs

your own messiah

it certainly is