Sumber: Malaysian Digest
 GOALS, surprises, upsets and entertainment. That’s what the current FIFA World Cup is offering us thus far. The competition will enter its knock-out stage this Saturday but that isn’t the only thing to come in that period. Ramadan, the holy month in the Islamic calendar where Muslims perform the fast during the day, will also feature this time around during football's greatest extravaganza. So, can these two co-exist, and how will Muslim footballers perform their religious penance which runs into the most thrilling and exciting stages of the World Cup?
Are Footballers Exempted From Fasting? The practice of fasting during Ramadan is an obligation for all healthy, adult Muslims, requiring one to abstain from food and fluid, from sunrise to sunset. For a professional athlete like a footballer, this can be physically challenging when playing matches at such a high performance level such as competitions like the World Cup. Some Muslim scholars however, have given the pass to these athletes. In 2010, the Central Council of Muslims in Germany advised professional footballers that they need not fast during Ramadan. "These professional players can make up for the fasting days during periods when there are no matches. In that way, they express their respect towards God and the holy month of Ramadan," said council president Aiman Mazyek. A dispute over the issue in Germany in October 2009 had the second-division team FSV Frankfurt, issue an official warning to three of its Muslim players for fasting during Ramadan and failing to inform their manager. Dar al-Ifta, Egypt's top religious institution which clarifies religious principles and issues edicts, echoes the view. “A player who is tied to a club by contract is obliged to perform his duties and if this work is his source of income requiring him to participate in matches during Ramadan and if viewed that fasting affects his performance, then he is allowed to break the fast," Dar al-Ifta spokesman Ibrahim Nigm explains to theAFP. Religious opinions state that "those who work difficult jobs and can become weaker as a result of fasting, can break the fast," Nigm said. But not all Muslim scholars agree. The Azhar Scholars Front, a group of religious scholars, issued a statement on their website denouncing the opinion: "Playing is playing, it is not an essential part of life that justifies breaking of the fast during Ramadan."  Dr. Zulkifli Mohamad Al-Bakri /pic: facebook
Back home, Malaysian Digest decided to seek the views of one of our local ulama, Dr. Zulkifli Mohamad Al-Bakri on his thoughts on the matter. “There are different views on whether or not footballers are allowed to skip fasting during Ramadan. But, I am more inclined with the view that it is considered as ‘qiyas maal farigh’, which means ‘a deduction that is weak’. "I don’t think football can be considered as an important enough line of duty to miss fasting. There are many more important and heavier duties,” he explained. In an article published by Goal.com, Ajmal Masroor, a London-based Imam and a member of the Muslim Council of Britain, says: “There are exceptions during Ramadan – if you are sick or are travelling for example, then you can partake food or water on certain days." "But, if a footballer was to tell me that ‘I can’t fulfil my professional obligations if I fast’, I cannot deem this as an acceptable reason. Firemen have to fast, police officers have to fast, school teachers have to fast - this is part of the challenge we endure. "However, you have an event like the Olympics, which is possibly a once in a lifetime opportunity for an athlete, running during Ramadan and similarly, a World Cup during Ramadan, then an exception can be made - but on a case to case basis." Masroor adds: "If a footballer earns ￡100,000 a week and says that fasting for one month is going to jeopardise his career, is not really valid - and you would argue otherwise that a month of devout prayer and fasting is probably something that would be very beneficial to that player. "It's a case to case situation - there can be no hard and fast rule for Muslims. I think if we are going to be truly multicultural, then clubs and coaches must adapt to the obligations during Ramadan for their Muslim players."
To Fast Or Not To Fast? One team that is expected to go far in this year’s World Cup is Germany. Its star playmaker, Mesut Ozil said that due to his job, he is unable to fulfil the Ramadan obligations properly. "I will do it only on days that I can, that is when I have a free day. But, other than that, it's impossible because you have to drink and eat a lot to stay at the peak of fitness,” says Ozil who plays his club football with Arsenal in the English Premier League. 
Brothers Kolo and Yaya Toure of The Ivory Coast, however, have opted to stick to fasting during Ramadan, although they admit it will not be easy. "You definitely need to be disciplined. For me, the first five days are difficult but after that, the body begins to adapt and you feel really happy," Kolo, the elder brother, told LiverpoolFC.com last year. "You clean your body as well and you feel even stronger after Ramadan. I recently watched a programme on BBC about Demba Ba – and he scored a lot of goals after Ramadan because he was much fitter. "I think it’s amazing how Ramadan can make you really strong. It’s tough, but at the same time I feel much stronger, because my mental condition takes over. It’s definitely hard, but when you believe in God, nothing is impossible. "I’ve been observing Ramadan all these years I’ve been in football. It’s very important that you eat well. It’s important that you eat the right food because you can gain weight or you can have less food in your body,” he explained in detail. Another Muslim player at the World Cup is Ghana’s Sulley Muntari. In 2009, after playing only half and hour in his then club, Inter’s 1-1 draw with Bari, the fasting 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," he said. Six (Bosnia-Herzegovina, Algeria, Cameroon, Iran, Ivory Coast and Nigeria) of the 32 national teams competing in Brazil, come from countries with substantial Islamic presence – and three are drawn together in Group F. So, it is inevitable that teams with Muslim players will be involved in the tournament’s latter stages. Carlos Queiroz, the Iran coach, said the prospect of his side playing high-intensity football during the coming Holy Month is nothing new to his players and that he and his technical team are not overly concerned about the potential challenge. “The Iranian Muslim players have a lot of experience to deal with their religious obligations and the sport,” Queiroz said. “During qualifying, we sometimes faced similar cultural issues, so there is a long history, and that has helped produce knowledge. Today, playing at this level, it is not an issue.” Of course, the fasting dilemma is faced by Muslim footballers outside the World Cup too. Udinese midfielder, Gokhan Inler, doesn’t fast at all, because he feels it is detrimental to his performance. Karim Benzema was always allowed to fast at his club, Real Madrid, as club doctors designed a special program to keep the player hydrated. For Amr Zaki, the former Wigan Athletic striker, whether he would fast or not for the entire month in England was never up for debate. “When I was in England I was eager to fast all the time and kept praying and read the Quran in my spare time. I fasted every day and I don’t think it affected my performance – actually, I think I got stronger. I have played many matches on days which I have fasted,” said the Eygptian. Former French striker, Nicolas Anelka said that he initially fasted during the day as prescribed, but "I realised I often got injured just after the Ramadan period, so I don't observe it strictly any more." A similar approach is followed by Moroccan striker Marouane Chamakh. "I have no problems fasting during Ramadan, it becomes normal. I do not fast a day before a game and on match days, but I do make up for the lost days later."
Mind Over Body  Selangor FA fitness coach, Mashiedee Sulaiman /pic: Faisol Mustafa
So how do footballers prepare themselves during Ramadan? According to Mashiedee Sulaiman, the fitness coach for Selangor FA, the solution for countries with a large Muslim population like Malaysia is quite simple. “We just change the training schedule,” he said. “The most ideal time to train is 4 hours after breaking fast. Local teams usually train at 10, 11, or even 12 pm during Ramadan. Some team’s training sessions can even last until 2 am.” Of course a typical man’s diet during this month are usually just geared towards two huge meals, one during sahur and one during breaking fast. “I suggest footballers to take slow-release carbohydrates during these meals. These includes foods like sweet potatoes, corn, and whole-grains. Having quick-release carbs like sugary drinks will spike your insulin and you’ll end up feeling lethargic,” Mashiedee adds. He also sees training and playing during this month as something more of a psychological matter, something more mind over body. “Its up to the individual. If the player right from the start feels he can’t give 100% performance because he is fasting, he has already lost half of the battle. What is important is what the player does before and after training, how he controls his diet, rest, and sleep.” So there you have it. There are solutions around this both from a religious point of view, and from a physical/fitness point of view. Personally I haven’t noticed a drop of performance from players who have opted to fast. In fact I have a sneaky feeling that one of them could very well turn out to be one the best players in this World Cup! Hopefully it’ll prove that fasting isn’t a burden.
http://malaysiandigest.com/frontpage/282-main-tile/506410-ramadan-world-cup-and-the-athlete-s-dilemma.html
Last edited by adik^manis on 25-6-2014 03:52 PM
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Post time 25-6-2014 03:52 PM
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