I am encouraged to learn from the Head Coach Ammar of Ortan FC Football Academy Cyberjaya where my 8 years old grandson, Izz Fayyadh has signed up for coaching that “the training programs and activities will not be changed much during the month of Ramadan.” Therefore, the role of coaches, parents, teammates and medical professionals is crucial in helping their young footballers manage all the Ramadan's health demands and challenges - nutrition, hydration, sufficient rest.
I know many Muslim footballers across the world are fasting druring the religious month of Ramadan. Most athletes typically require at least three proper meals a day to train and compete at a high level, and naturally there is a shift to two meals for players observing Ramadan, with the biggest meal being before sunrise so that they can keep going throughout the day. It is also about finding the right balance between hydration and having a proper night sleep. According to Dr. Mohammed Mukhyuddin Sarawani of Clinic Menara KL that “During Ramadan, a player's body needs to adapt to an altered biological schedule like drinking 8 glasses of water at night time.”
I agree with Head Coach Ammar if training is suspended during Ramadan, his young footballers would be losing their fitness power & agility. He said, “There can be mental benefits for players fasting in the sense that because they know they are lacking some energy, however, the spiritual element of Ramadan can mentally act as a source for additional power of motivation or inspiration to perform even better to achieve excellence.”
Engaging in conversations with the coaches, I learned some of the most important practical tips or “secrets” to becoming a successful coach. They collectively have logged untold hours coaching young footballers through the toughest situations of imaginable feelings. Strong feelings like desire, dreams, passion, and excitement are the dynamo behind the champions - the ones who reach higher and go further. I'm convinced excellence requires skill, but skill isn't sufficient for excellence. We have to be emotionally engaged to excel.
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