Internationally renowned Nigerian former basketball star, Hakeem ‘The Dream’ Olajuwoin is reflecting on his active days of playing in USA’s National Basketball Association (NBA) league, and shared the secrets of how he was able to cope with high-profile action during the Muslim’s month of Ramadan, megasportsarena.com reports.
Olajuwon recalled how he always put in extra effort to stay committed till the end during the holy month of Ramadan, when Muslims abstain from food and drink from sunrise to sunset, but other players fail to stay strong, as fasts are being broken and thirst quenched in order to gain strength for matches.
Ramadan continues to be a festive time for Muslims, who sacrifice their appetites in hopes of becoming closer to Gods, and Olajuwon stressed that he always challenged himself to observe fasts while playing during the holy month of abstinence and raised awareness of another aspect of what a Muslim should be.
Even his former teammates marveled at Olajuwon’s ability to play during the month, such that one of hios colleagues, Robert Horry once said: “There are 48 minutes to a game and for you to play 42 minutes of that 48 and not even be able to take a sip of water, that is just phenomenal.”
In the same vein, a look through the archives of a local newspaper in the region where he made top marks playing for Houston Rockets stated more about his deviation to fasting in the month of Ramadan, as Houston Chronicle noted that he was never found wanting in that regard during his time in the prestigious basketball league.
Olajuwon told The Undefeated’s Marc J. Spears: “As for fasting, it is a spiritual mindset that gives you the stamina required to play. Through Allah’s mercy, I always felt stronger and more energetic during Ramadan.”
