“There is no compelling reason that could have excused them from fasting” – that was the response of a Bakau imam as he condemns U-23 players for not fasting.

Foday Janneh, the deputy imam of Bakau New Town, said: “They were not fasting for six days and therefore must make up for the days by fasting for the whole year.  It was deliberate because they were neither sick nor did they travel.”

He was delivering the khutba on Friday in Bakau. Imam Janneh told worshippers: “I have to say it because these football teams are composed of Muslim men. Their leader asked them to go for camping and that they should not fast. They all complied except one person who was sacked by their leader.”

For many Muslim footballers, the month of Ramadan always poses a problem of faith versus professional obligations.

The Gambia Football Federation is yet to respond to the imam’s allegation that one of the U-23 players was sacked because he insisted on fasting.

Source: The Standard Newspaper