Pape Matar Sarr's performance for Tottenham against Bournemouth was one of the shining lights on a difficult day and it was made all the more impressive as the midfielder was fasting for Ramadan.
The 22-year-old midfielder began Spurs' fightback from 2-0 down when his cross caught out Kepa Arrizabalaga and sailed into the far left corner of net. Along with Lucas Bergvall, Sarr was one of the home side's better players on the day with his energy and box-to-box runs in a 96-minute performance as he kept up with the Cherries' fast and physical pressing game.
What some might not have realised is that, as a Muslim, the young Tottenham player was also taking part in Ramadan, a month of prayer and reflection that will last this year until the celebration of Eid on the evening of Sunday, March 30. What makes Ramadan more difficult for footballers is that one of the five pillars of Islam states that during this month, Muslims do not eat or drink between daylight hours to show their devotion to their religion.
While in recent years in the Premier League, a natural break is now found in games that overlap sunset for Muslim players or officials to break their fast, there was no such opportunity for Sarr due to Spurs' game kicking off at 2pm and ending before sundown.
That meant on the day of the game, the Senegal international would not have eaten or taken a drink since before 6am on Sunday morning and only broke his fast after the sun set later that evening. Sarr posted an image on Instagram of a bowl of dates he was about to eat, a traditional food to symbolise the breaking of the daily Ramadan fast.
It's worth noting as well that Sarr will be training through Tottenham's high energy sessions each day under Ange Postecoglou at Hotspur Way this month while fasting.
He will be able to eat and drink as usual for Thursday night's game against AZ before needing to fast again during the trip to Fulham on Sunday. Then comes the international break for the Senegalese midfielder and after that Ramadan will come to a close before he plays for Tottenham again.
It says plenty though about his physical capabilities that on Sunday afternoon few people would have even suspected what Sarr was undertaking with his body as he put in an eye-catching display.
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