Ramadan presented challenges for TFC 2's Hassan Ayari
The midfielder spent the month of March training and playing while fasting on a daily basis as part of his faith as a Muslim.
March was a gruelling month for TFC 2, especially for midfielder Hassan Ayari.
After a lengthy pre-season training camp, the Young Reds kicked off their 2025 MLS NEXT Pro campaign with a trio of road matches in Cincinnati, Chicago and Boston over a 20-day road.
Playing that many games, training almost every day and doing all that travelling during a short period of time would be hard enough on any player. But for Ayari, 22, there was the added bonus of TFC 2’s busy schedule coinciding with the holy month of Ramadan, which began on Feb. 28 and ended on March 30.
The Islamic faith requires its followers to pray five times a day. During each day of Ramadan, Ayari and billions of Muslims around the world must not only continue this steady regiment of prayer, but they also have to wake up before sunrise (known as fajr) to eat a meal. It marks the start of a day of great sacrifice, as Muslims must refrain from food, drink (not even water), smoking and sex for the rest of the day until sunset (known as maghrib).
