QUOTE
Ramadan decisions
Sunday 23 August, 2009
Ramadan begins today and this means playing without food or water before sunset for stars like Momo Sissoko and Houssine Kharja.
The ninth month of the Islamic Lunar calendar requires all healthy Muslims to abstain from all food, drink, gum chewing and tobacco between dawn and sunset.
It represents an exacting act of deeply personal worship in which Muslims seek a raised level of consciousness with God.
It can, however, represent a problem for athletes and in particular football players for an entire month.
Some, like Juventus midfielder Sissoko and Genoa starlet Kharja, insist on the full experience regardless of the situation.
Sissoko is fortunate he is injured at the moment and therefore cannot play anyway, while Kharja is pleased to note Genoa begin their campaign tonight against Roma, so he can eat before kick-off.
According to a report by the Gazzetta dello Sport today, other Muslims in Serie A have chosen to adapt their show of faith because of the special circumstances.
“Above all in this hot weather, the risk of dehydration is very high,” commented doctor Tamara Pamich. “Even if they are used to it psychologically, it is still dangerous to train without food or drink.”
The newspaper claims others like Sulley Ali Muntari of Inter, Siena’s Abdel Ghezzal, Mourad Meghni of Lazio and Udinese man Gokhan Inler do not go through the complete fast, as it would pose a health risk when training and playing regularly.
From all at Football Italia, we wish our Muslim readers Ramadan Mubarak.
Sunday 23 August, 2009
Ramadan begins today and this means playing without food or water before sunset for stars like Momo Sissoko and Houssine Kharja.
The ninth month of the Islamic Lunar calendar requires all healthy Muslims to abstain from all food, drink, gum chewing and tobacco between dawn and sunset.
It represents an exacting act of deeply personal worship in which Muslims seek a raised level of consciousness with God.
It can, however, represent a problem for athletes and in particular football players for an entire month.
Some, like Juventus midfielder Sissoko and Genoa starlet Kharja, insist on the full experience regardless of the situation.
Sissoko is fortunate he is injured at the moment and therefore cannot play anyway, while Kharja is pleased to note Genoa begin their campaign tonight against Roma, so he can eat before kick-off.
According to a report by the Gazzetta dello Sport today, other Muslims in Serie A have chosen to adapt their show of faith because of the special circumstances.
“Above all in this hot weather, the risk of dehydration is very high,” commented doctor Tamara Pamich. “Even if they are used to it psychologically, it is still dangerous to train without food or drink.”
The newspaper claims others like Sulley Ali Muntari of Inter, Siena’s Abdel Ghezzal, Mourad Meghni of Lazio and Udinese man Gokhan Inler do not go through the complete fast, as it would pose a health risk when training and playing regularly.
From all at Football Italia, we wish our Muslim readers Ramadan Mubarak.
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Sissoko usually fasts regardless of the circumstances, and last term this was a stellar month for him in terms of performances.
