New York Tiger said:
A couple of articles re Ramadan and Sports:
http://bacharhouli.com.au/a-tough-time-in-footy-and-my-ramadan-diet
http://olympics.time.com/2012/07/12/how-to-compete-in-the-olympics-while-fasting-for-ramadan/
Intersting reading. It's amazing the commitment Houli puts into both his faith and his football. That diet would be uncomfortable, and tiring, it's amazing he can do that while training and playing.
The second article is the more interesting, it describes Islam as a "practical and flexible religion", within which many Muslim athletes have been able to maintain their religious adherence without necessarily fasting.
From the little research I've done, I understand that the notion of fasting allows for some flexibility about when an individual fasts. If days are missed, for legitimate reasons, they can be made up. Similarly, I believe that if they are unable to fast, they can make it up by feeding people in need.
Surely these options would be availiable to Bachar? I understand if his sense of discipline dictates that he can maintain his fasting, alongside his football. But there was a noticeable drop in his performance during the games he fasted last year...
I understand him holding his religion above his performance. However, if his religious needs and requirements can be fulfilled, whilst still allowing him to drink water during a 3 hour endurance event, then I think he's obligated from a professional and team perspective to facilitate it. Either that or list himself as injured for the games where he can't drink.
This will be drawing a very long bow, but imagine how little the difference is that would have to have been overcome to win the three games we lost during Houli's fasting period. Less than a kick each time. I'm not suggesting that Houli's performance was the difference between winning and losing... but the difference between them was very small. It's interesting to think about whether he would have been any more capable in the dying moments of those games had his tongue not been swollen, dry, and stuck to the roof of his mouth. Whether we would have made finals....
Obviously, that's just theoretical, and it probably has no relevance.
BUT, each player on the field, nowadays, is require to be giving their absolute best, and all the sports science, recovery, everything that footy departments put so much money into is designed to bring this about.
If Houli has any flexibility at all within his religious duties, I would consider whether he should feel obliged to consider it.
