Ramadan is a sacred time for Muslims in which they dedicate themselves to personal reflection and spiritual growth over the course of a month (based on the lunar calendar). During this time, Muslims engage in the practice of fasting, meaning no food or water every day from dawn to sunset.
This can be a tall task for professional athletes such as Vancouver FC players Kahlil John-Wentworth, Mamadou Kane, and Ibrahim Bakare. “Sometimes it is very difficult because we have double-session training. The gym sessions are also sometimes very hard,” said Mamadou Kane, VFC defender.
According to research, including a study by Ronald J. Maughan, et al., “the timing and intensity of training may require adjustment to optimize the training response, and training close to or after sunset may have advantage (2012).” While this would be ideal, football is a team sport and it can be difficult to adjust training and schedule to every player’s preferences.
VFC is fortunate to have Arez Ardalani, who is also a Muslim, as an assistant coach and can provide context to these players’ needs firsthand. “I think VFC has done a good job adapting to players’ needs. We always have our doors open because we’re very aware of what Ramadan is,” Ardalani said.
One way that VFC is supporting these athletes is by providing special smoothies, snacks and energy drinks for players that need to break their fast during competition, such as the Canadian Championship. Another way the club has supported them is by adjusting the workload and granting them special permission to assist Eid prayer.
VFC head coach, Afshin Ghotbi, can appreciate the dedication and commitment of his players during Ramadan such as Ibrahim Bakare’s performance in the Canadian Championship. “He is fascinating and he has not eaten all day and the fact that you bring that kind of energy while fasting is remarkable.”
For John-Wentworth, this is his first time fasting for Ramadan. At one point, Kahlil grabbed a water bottle during training but the other players reminded him about his fasting commitment.
Having the support from his teammates has been a unique experience for John-Wentworth, especially during a tough time when he was recovering from an injury suffered during the preseason. “I felt more connected to myself. I feel like [Ramadan] helped me recover a bit quicker than it would normally take for anyone else.”
Some of the many notable Muslim players on the current international stage are Karim Benzema, Sadio Mane and Mohammed Salah. Even though they and many other Muslims have been stars of the sport for decades, it was just a couple of years ago that leagues like the English Premier League, Bundesliga and MLS adopted a protocol to initiate a stoppage in the game at dusk. This allowed Muslim players to have their first sip of water or first bite of food after fasting all day before continuing the match.
Defender John-Wentworth, who appreciates the new protocols, hopes it will become a norm globally. “It just brings a sense of unity,” says John-Wentworth. “People can understand and sympathize with everyone. Understanding what they go through, what their religions [are] and the things that they practice are like. So we all can become more as one.”
Ardalani is grateful that at VFC, people from different backgrounds are able to share their experiences, cultures and beliefs. “That’s the beautiful thing about football is that it showcases so many different cultures. It’s just a beautiful common language for the world.”
“I think the diversity and the children of immigrants combined with the generations that have been here for a long time create such an interesting mixture of culture [and] football mentality,” Ghotbi reiterates. “..and I think that’s going to be the strength of Canadian football.”
Ramadan ends on Friday with Muslims around the world celebrating Eid-Al Fitr with great feasts and gifts for the kids. This weekend will be the first opportunity for our Muslim athletes to take on a CPL game without fasting. Make sure to tune in when VFC takes on York United at York Lions Stadium on Saturday at 10 a.m. PDT.
Eid Mubarak!
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