As a Muslim I feel very accepted in England – DoucoureOn Wednesday evening, Muslims around the world will begin Ramadan, fasting during daylight hours and aiming to connect with their faith.This includes the 253 Muslim players in the first teams and academies of the top four tiers of English football who, according to advisers Nujum Sports, make up about 5% of the total.Those players will be juggling the exertions of the Islamic holy month with training schedules and matches.”I always love Ramadan,” Everton midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure tells BBC Sport. “Sometimes playing football has been hard because Ramadan has been in the summer and during pre-season.”But I have always been lucky to practise Ramadan and there have never been problems with my physical condition – I am grateful for that.”My religion is the most important thing in my life – I put my religion first, then comes my work. You can do both together and I am happy with that.”You get so much free time so I am always able to go to the mosque to pray and to enjoy my religion when I’m at home.”Watch the Abdoulaye Doucoure interview on the Football News Show’Without my faith, I would not be in this position’Doucoure (left) started his career in France with RennesDoucoure was born and raised in a suburb of Paris to Malian parents, and moved to England in 2016 when he joined top-flight side Watford from Rennes.An FA Cup final appearance came in 2019 when the Hornets were beaten by… Click below to read the full story from BBC Sport
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