Amini to fast, play during Ramadan
REIGNING Soccer Star of the Year, Qadr Amini has decided to commit to Ramadan while fulfilling Ngezi Platinum commitments in a bid to overcome what he believes are overwhelming challenges at home and in the game.
Despite being Muslim, Amini rarely observed the month-long Ramadan in full while playing football with the only exceptions being when Covid-19 stopped fulfilment of matches and also during a long injury layoff.
Ramadan is a month of fasting, worship, service, communal gathering and spiritual development for followers and this year it runs between March 10 and April 9.
And Amini who burst into professional football exactly 14-years-ago under Gunners, vowed to pray and fast daily throughout the period.
“I have been fasting since day one of this year’s Ramadan. I attend my prayers religiously like my training sessions and matches.
“The first two days were tough, but because this year, for the first time since I began my football journey, I want to complete my Ramadan. I have to stick to my plans.”
Amini has never missed training since this year’s Ramadan started.
He will be celibate during the period and he has to avoid swearing and arguing, acts which are against the dictates of Ramadan.
“Temporary celibacy is mandatory in a number of our religious obligations, including in two of the five pillars that form Islam’s ritual base.
“During the month of Ramadan, we are required to abstain and adhere to a strict daily fast that extends from daybreak to sundown.
“In training or even on match day I do not take any food or water so to cool down I only pour water on myself.
“I break my fast at 6:15 pm and after that, I have a cup of tea or hot water then about an hour later, I have rice or any light meal.”
The only times that Amini managed to fast for the entire Ramadan month were in 2018 and 2020.
In 2018, he had not been registered by his team due to injury while in 2022 it was due to the coronavirus outbreak which forced a ban on sport.
Throughout the other years, he could not afford to fast and play at the same time.
Yet this year, the star feels he has burning issues that he needs to pray for hence had to move out of his religious comfort zone.
“Captaincy is not only on the football pitch; I also need to go an extra mile, so my team is one of the issues that I pray for,” he said.
“I pray five times per day throughout the period, my first one is at 5am, the second one at 9am, and the third is held at 1pm, then 4pm. I have a closing prayer at 6;15pm.
“We are yet to find our feet in this campaign, I also have a title to defend and a family to pray for, so it is a busy time for me.”
The captain said their current performances need the team to work and pray harder.
He acknowledges that picking a point out of a potential six in the two opening games of the season brings pressure on them.
“As a senior player there is a time that you need to lead by example. It is your role to morally uplift the youngsters and give them the confidence,” added Amini.
“It is high time that we start collecting points, we have a title to defend and these are some of the points that we will need in the end.
“In times like these, your character is also tested so you need to be strong in all aspects and I believe prayer can give me the stability I need.”