During Fiorentina’s match against Inter Milan on Saturday evening, Sofyan Amrabat broke his fast with the help of Luca Ranieri. During Ramadan, Muslims abstain from food and drink from sunrise to sunset. This can be a challenging experience, especially for professional athletes who need to maintain their physical fitness and performance levels. Many footballers adjust their schedules and routines during Ramadan to accommodate fasting and ensure they are ready for matches.
How Do Footballers Keep Up Their Performances During Ramadan?
One of the most crucial aspects of fasting during Ramadan for footballers is maintaining proper hydration. Many footballers start their day with a pre-dawn meal called Suhoor, which is a high-protein meal that helps them stay hydrated throughout the day. During training sessions, they make sure to drink plenty of water and electrolyte drinks to keep their bodies hydrated.
Many professional footballers like Paul Pogba, Mohamed Salah and Sofyan Amrabat opt to train in the evening after breaking their fast to avoid dehydration and fatigue during intense training sessions.
In addition to the physical challenges of fasting during Ramadan, footballers may also experience mental and emotional difficulties. Fasting can cause fatigue, irritability, and lack of focus, which can affect their performance on the field. To combat these challenges, many footballers rely on their faith and spiritual practices to stay motivated and focused during Ramadan. They may also use the month to give back to their communities through charitable activities and volunteer work.
How Did Luca Ranieri Help Sofyan Amrabat Break His Fast?
Amrabat breaking his fast was a part of the observance of Ramadan, which started on March 22 and requires Muslims worldwide, including the Morocco international, to abstain from eating or drinking during daylight hours for a month.
The Moroccan midfielder was part of Fiorentina’s starting lineup for the Serie A game against Inter Milan at San Siro. In the 53rd minute, his team took the lead through Giacomo Bonaventura, a former AC Milan player. Despite a late surge from Inter, Fiorentina held on to their lead until stoppage time. With just minutes left to go, Amrabat was given the opportunity to break his fast when his teammate, Luca Ranieri, went down injured. Ranieri signalled for medical attention while lying on the ground, seemingly with no one around him.
Meanwhile, the camera panned to Amrabat on the sideline, who was seen eating a banana and having a drink. Some have suggested that Ranieri faked his injury to give Amrabat time to break his fast.
Lucas Ranieri faked an injury to allow his teammate Sofyan Amrabat to break his fast✊🏽❤️#Ramadan#KhairKhwah pic.twitter.com/2jAzJ65Wag
— Salman Afridi (@salmanafrid10) April 1, 2023
