Evening.
Slightly late this, but what the hell.
In his first interview with LFC Oussama Assaidi revealed that he is Muslim, and therefore observing Ramadan.
It made me wonder how Muslim footballers dealt with this.
Leaving aside for a second the religious side of it, I was wondering how an athlete could prepare for a game without eating or drinking. I work with a few Muslims and during Ramadan every year I see how it takes a physical effect on their ability to perform their duties. As I work in a mundane office job, its not too much of a big deal. But as an athlete, it must be a significant burden.
I'm not suggesting for one minute that Muslims should not take part in matches during Ramadan, but I was surprised to learn that Nicholas Anelka and Marouane Chamakh don't observe the strict rules the day before a match.
Are there any Muslims on here that can shed some light on how to prepare for this? Are there any other religious holidays that impact sport?