The European-based Muslim players are starting the season with a stern challenge, which is to maintain form while fasting in Ramadan. Playing professional football during the holy month this year requires more endurance than before, as Ramadan began in the middle of the summer, and so it will for several more years. The daily fast, from dawn to dusk, is quite longer in the summer than in the winter, and it could be extremely exhausting with hot weather dehydrating the body. Unlike in Islamic countries, neither European clubs nor football associations make special arrangements for competitions during Ramadan. Subsequently, every Muslim footballer on the Old Continent is now trying to cope in his own way. Some of them are still determined to fulfill their religious duty, while others believe it's almost impossible to ply their trade while fasting, so they do what they think is best for their careers. Health "I observe the fast during my days off, when there are no games or training," Siena's French-born Algerian striker Abdelkader Ghezzal said. "I've always observed Ramadan but I have had to change my habits for health reasons from the first year that I became a professional.
Mourinho "Playing football is a way to earn a living. You're not asked to make yourself ill but to observe the fast if the conditions are right." Ghezzal is not the only one who's convinced that fasting could result in health problems for athletes. Inter Milan's Ghanaian midfielder Sulley Muntari was taken off in the 1-1 draw with Bari on August 23rd, the second of Ramadan, as Jose Mourinho was adamant that he was negatively affected by fasting. "Sulley Muntari's substitution was the consequence of my dissatisfaction with how the team had started the match," the Portuguese tactician stated. "With Muntari I think he had a few problems linked to Ramadan. Perhaps it's not positive for him to be in this situation with this heat. "Ramadan has not arrived at the ideal moment for a player to play a football match." In Spain, Barcelona's Muslims Seydou Keita, Yaya Toure and Eric Abidal started fasting only after the Spanish Super Cup with Athletic Bilbao on Sunday. "I abide by the Islamic doctrine but I'm also a professional player," Mali's Keita commented on his decision not to fast in the first two days of Ramadan. Faith
Kanoute On the contrary, devout Muslim Frederic Kanoute says that fasting gives Muslims strength, even when the summer heat is unbearable. "Personally, having faith helps my football and football helps me to be healthy and strengthens me," the Sevilla marksman told Goal.com. "There is no conflict because people who know about Islam, they know that fasting empowers and does not weaken the Muslim. "I try to respect my faith and follow it as best I can. "It is sometimes harder to keep the fast because here in the south of Spain it is very hot, but I can do it, thank God." Real Madrid's Muslim trio Karim Benzema, Mahamadou Diarra and Lassana Diarra also insisted on fasting as soon as Ramadan began, and were put on a special regimen as a result. "Every coach has respected my decision," said Mahamadou on his Real profile page. "They are difficult days during which one needs to eat, but it only lasts one month. I have another ten to play well."
