‘I’ve got an eye for the goal just like Mo Salah’

HI BOSS, shall we enter a team for the Ramadaan football tournament? You can play as well.” I wait for Hani, my Egyptian colleague, to laugh at his own joke. Except, he doesn’t, which means the joke’s on me. I decide to go on the attack.

“What do you mean, I can also play? Don’t let the suit and tie fool you. I’ve got a mean left foot and an eye for the goal, just like Mohamed Salah.”

This time Hani laughs, and laughs. When he stops, he tells me that the Aspire Zone Foundation, an organisation focused on healthy living and enhancing sports performance in Qatar, is holding its annual Ramadaan Sports Festival.

Activities for men, women and children have been planned, including football, volleyball, table tennis, cricket and general fitness sessions.

All activities are scheduled to start at 9.30pm, after iftaar (the sunset breaking of the fast) and taraweeh salah (the daily evening prayers).

Aspetar, the orthopaedic and sports medicine hospital arm of Aspire that hosted South Africa’s own Wayde van Niekerk during his knee injury rehabilitation, has also launched a “Healthy Ramadaan” campaign to emphasise the importance of adopting an active lifestyle during the holy month.

It’s no surprise that Qatar is on a health and wellness drive. The Gulf state is not only the wealthiest nation on Earth; it’s one of the more obese.

Research conducted by the British newspaper The Daily Telegraph last year found that Qatar was 16th on a list of the world’s most obese countries.

Locals and expats alike are not immune to the sedentary lifestyle that becomes far too easy to adopt due to a combination of sweltering summer months and privileged existences.

And there is the risk of overindulging in Ramadaan – if you’re tired of eating at home, there is no shortage of restaurants and hotels running special offers to reel you in, whether you’ve fasted or not.

Hospitals here often experience an influx of patients with stomach cramps and similar ailments during Ramadaan, especially in the first few days.

Hence the laudable efforts to get us off the couch and on to the pitch. There’s just one stumbling block, which to me is quite clear from the very title of the Aspire tournament – it’s Ramadaan, a time for spiritual enlightenment, introspection and rest where possible, due to the effects of fasting from dawn until dusk.

In Cape Town, the only exercise you would get in Ramadaan would be from going up and down while praying.

But Hani won’t take no for an answer. “C’mon Ridwaan. We all want to see Mo Salah in action!” This time, the joke’s on him. “No problem. I’ll invite the team for iftaar at my house tomorrow. We can watch Liverpool play Real Madrid in the Champions League final.”