Anwar El Ghazi on challenges and rewards facing Muslim athletes fasting for Ramadan – ‘It’s really special’

Fasting for Ramadan as a professional athlete is a tough but rewarding experience and the body soon adapts to new demands, PSV winger Anwar El Ghazi has explained.

Muslim athletes have been fasting since March 22 for Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, but will finish at the end of this week when they celebrate Eid al-Fitr.

“Ramadan is a month about getting closer to God. So that’s why this month is really special for Muslims and Muslim athletes,” El Ghazi told Eurosport’s ‘The Power of Sport’ series.

It can be a challenging period for professional sportsmen and women, but the former Aston Villa forward explained that the body can adjust quickly to the circumstances.

“Pre-dawn meal is called ‘suhoor’. It’s important to get the right nutrition inside your body,” the 27-year-old continued.

“As a lot of people know, you cannot eat and drink from the moment the sun comes up. And to the moment the sun is going down.

“It is tough for an athlete, obviously. I can remember I have been fasting when I was with Ajax in pre-season in July.

“We were in Austria and it was like 30 degrees, training twice a day, and I survived it. So, the human body is capable of a lot.”

El Ghazi, who has scored nine goals in 27 appearances for PSV this season, is happy that he has team-mates going through it with him.

“It’s not that we come to work like, ‘oh, we haven’t eaten so we just do half the work’. It’s still a professional job that we do and we still have to do everything that we can,” he said.

“The first week you’ll feel hunger during the day in the morning, afternoon, evening. But after a week, your body’s totally adapted and how it works for me, I don’t feel hunger anymore.

“Ibrahim Sangare is also fasting and Ismail Saibari. You know you’re not alone. You’re not the only one suffering. So, it makes a little bit easier.”

El Ghazi added: “When I’m playing at PSV, they stop the game, so we are able to get a minute to eat something. I know it’s maybe a small gesture, but it means a lot for us and we appreciate that a lot.

“My body feels literally the same [after training]. I’m not hungry. I’m not thirsty. So, just a little bit of a dry mouth. That’s it.

“I think without the night prayers for me, it’s not like really a Ramadan vibe. It’s not only about not eating and drinking, it’s also getting closer to God. It’s really special.”

PSV are third in the Eredivisie table, eight points behind leaders Feyenoord.

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