Fasting Ziyech and Mazraoui run to side of pitch for food gel on 22nd minute as sun set allowing Ramadan-observers to eat
FASTING Ajax duo Hakim Ziyech and Noussair Mazraoui ran to the side of pitch to take on some food gel in the 22nd minute of the clash with Tottenham. The Muslim players are both observing Ramadan, meaning they are not allowed to eat between sunrise and sunset. As the sun went down in Amsterdam, the […]
FASTING Ajax duo Hakim Ziyech and Noussair Mazraoui ran to the side of pitch to take on some food gel in the 22nd minute of the clash with Tottenham.
The Muslim players are both observing Ramadan, meaning they are not allowed to eat between sunrise and sunset.
As the sun went down in Amsterdam, the pair dashed over to the side of the pitch to take on energy supplements.
Mazraoui was seen tucking into a sachet in the 22nd minute – with Ziyech presumably doing the same.
And it worked wonders for the Moroccan star, 26, as he scored a matter of minutes later to double Ajax‘s lead.
The Dutch giants, already leading 1-0 from the first-leg in London, scored in just the fifth minute thanks to a Matthijs De Ligt header.
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Ziyech’s powerful strike after 35 minutes made it 2-0 leaving Spurs with a mountain to climb.
In 2014, now-Liverpool star Mohamed Salah revealed how difficult it can be to be a professional footballer during Ramadan.
Then at Chelsea, he explained: “Ramadan was a bit difficult for me because we had two training sessions every day, the weather was very hot and I played in every game.
“I wasn’t even able to drink water until 9.30pm. Although I am used to it, it’s finished now and I can eat and drink as normal.
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“When you train twice a day, your energy levels drop by the second session, but it means a lot to me so I’m very happy and I feel good.”
This year, Ramadan – seen as a time of spiritual reflection, improvement and increased devotion and worship – began on Sunday May 5.
It will continue for 30 days until Tuesday June 4.