During Ramadan, communities gather in the evenings to enjoy the Iftar, a meal that breaks their daily fast.
The Iftar traces its roots to Prophet Muhammed in the 7th century and serves as a core tenet of Islam.
It is deemed as a time for families to foster a sense of unity while reflecting and strengthening their relationship with Allah. Leicester City winger Abdul Fatawu Issahaku and Feyenoord winger Ibrahim Osman were recently spotted with teammates and fans, partaking in the Iftar.
Back in Ghana, Nima Kings, a third division club in Accra, observes the practice, sharing meals with children and their parents after training sessions.
“I think it’s a very important thing that will help us to grow as a small family because we at Nima Kings see ourselves as a family and a very small community,” Ambrose Nazzah, the team manager for Nima Kings told 3Sports.
The club was formed in 2021 at the heart of Nima, a predominant Islamic town that has produced some of Ghana’s best footballers like Mohammed Kudus, Majeed Ashimeru and Ibrahim Osman. Each day, the club welcomes prospective footballers from the ages of six to teach them the basics of the game and provide a family-like environment for growth.
This is Ali Nabase, a 20-year-old defender with the Nima Kings senior team who doubles as a youth coach for the junior team. He believes that the iftar serves as a great learning experience for the youngers ones at the club.
“As we always say, breaking the fast together is the best way for every Muslim and also for the children, when the older ones break the fast together, they see us and copy us,” Nabase said.
Families of these young kids are often spotted at training sessions, following the progress of their children. For the parents, the club has fostered a commendable sense of inclusivity.
“As first you have to carry your kids somewhere else, you can’t monitor them and know their progress but here in Nima Kings, you can come in at any time to see how they are improving,” a parent said.
“This event is a good one because the parents do not know each other but today we have all gathered here so we can know each other,” another parent said.
The Iftar and football is a match made in heaven as groups of people from different backgrounds come together as one big family. This practice is here to stay and will be an important part of team bonding for years to come.
