A TEAM representing Ghana at this weekend’s Sport Against Racism Ireland (Sari) Soccerfest tournament has been left decimated after a number of its Muslim players observing the Islamic holy month of Ramadan pulled out.
The Ghana team had been hotly tipped as potential winners of the annual Soccerfest tournament, but this year’s fiercely contested event coincides with Ramadan – the holiest month in the Islamic calendar, during which Muslims fast during sunlight – and some observant players have withdrawn.
In addition, Frank Buckley of Sari confirmed that a number of teams who may have participated decided not to this year due to the clash with Ramadan. On a previous occasion, he recalled, special arrangements were made to ensure that participating Muslim teams could break for prayer.
Buckley added that participation on the Sunday of the weekend tournament can also be an issue for some African Christians, who often spend the bulk of their Sundays at Pentecostal prayer services.
Not all Muslim players have pulled out of the tournament, and in fact many well-known professional players of the Muslim faith play throughout Ramadan.
Freddie Kanoute, the Sevilla FC striker, has always ridiculed suggestions that fasting might affect his performance, but Kanoute has been accommodated on faith grounds in relation to other issues.
For example, the 2007 African footballer of the year was given a brand-free jersey by Sevilla during the 2006/7 season, because the club’s sponsor was an internet gambling firm and gambling is against Islamic principles.
Sari’s Soccerfest, which will be held at the Garda Sports Ground in the Phoenix Park on Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 September, is Ireland’s largest intercultural sports festival and sees 48 teams with players from across the world competing against each other.
The launch of the Count Us In festival that same weekend will see regional representatives from the FAI, GAA, IRFU and Athletics Ireland on hand to provide coaching and mini tournaments to young people from all over Ireland on the Sunday from 12pm–4pm.
Both events are free and open to the public. Soccerfest is supported by the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue 2008.
Speaking at the launch in the European Commission Representation Office in Ireland in Dublin, Sari chairman Brian Kerr said Soccerfest was now in its 12th year and going from strength to strength.
“The diverse background of the teams is very welcome, and we have teams representing many different cultures and backgrounds and hailing from every corner of the globe,” he commented. “By expanding this year’s Soccerfest we aim to attract even more cultures and people that we may not have previously reached.”
Also speaking at the launch was Cork hurler, Seán Óg ÓhAilpín. “Sport promotes intercultural interaction, understanding and collaboration and has been a key focus of the European Year,” said the club and county GAA star.
“It is great that this year’s Soccerfest has expanded to include Gaelic games and other disciplines. I hope that the event will inspire young hurlers from diverse backgrounds like my own to become actively involved in the sport".
