Source: BBC

Muslims have spent the past month abstaining from eating and drinking from dawn until sunset.

In the intense summer, that can be a challenge for many – but it can be particularly difficult for top footballers trying to keep in peak physical condition.

Borussia Monchengladbach and Guinea winger Ibrahima Traore is one of those who has been trying to balance playing and training with fasting.

He told BBC World Service’s World Football programme he has found it intensely difficult – so hard that on some days he has to break his fast.

“It’s not easy – we are training so hard and it is so difficult,” he said.

“But when a Muslim does a job that is really difficult, and he has to eat or to drink in order to do his job well, he is allowed not to do Ramadan.

“When we have two training sessions, I don’t do it. But when we have one training session, or a free day, then I can do Ramadan.

“But with the weather and the training it is not easy at all.”

Traore said that the importance of the month for Muslims makes it very difficult for him personally to not fully partake in Ramadan.

However he explained that there are other options for Muslims who are faced with this challenge, such as making a donation to the poor.

And he added that while Monchengladbach’s coach Lucian Favre supports his right to choose how Traore observes his religion, he does have concerns.

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