₦airaland Forum

It's a welcome development.

When Paul Pogba recently removed a bottle of Heineken from the table at a news conference, it drew widespread attention.

Drinking, promoting or advertising alcohol is forbidden in Islam and as a devout Muslim, Pogba may have felt the need to distance himself from the situation, but should he have been put in that position in the first place?

"The recent example of Paul Pogba hiding the beer bottle highlights the need for education," says Ebadur Rahman, founder and chief executive of Nujum Sports.

Saturday sees the official launch of a historic "first of its kind" Muslim athletes' charter - an idea devised by Rahman, who previously worked for the Football Association.

The charter seeks to "challenge organisations" to make progress in supporting Muslim sportsmen and women, with signatories pledging to "create positive change".

There are 10 points contained within the charter, such as non-consumption of alcohol, including during celebrations, the provision of appropriate places to pray, halal food, and being allowed to fast in Ramadan.

"Having worked in sport, I am well aware of the difficulties being able to practice my religion," Rahman told BBC Sport.

"After speaking extensively to athletes and clubs, we felt it was the right time to have a Muslim athlete charter in place in the UK. We believe it is the first and only one of its kind.

"Clubs and organisations are joining a positive movement of solidarity, equality and recognition of the contribution Muslims make at their respective clubs and teams."

Premier League clubs endorse 'exciting' charter

Nujum calculates there are about 250 Muslim players in the first teams and academies across the top four leagues of English football.

Of these, Manchester United's Pogba, Liverpool duo Mohamed Salah and Sadio Made, and Chelsea's Champions League-winning N'Golo Kante and Antonio Rudiger are the highest-profile players.

Even before its release, five Premier League clubs and a further 15 from the EFL have pledged to support the charter.

Campaigners Kick it Out and the Football Supporters' Association have also given their backing.

A Brentford spokesman told BBC Sport: "Muslims are the second largest faith community in the UK and the fastest growing, with around 70 Muslim players at Premier League clubs.

"Assisting clubs to support those players to be themselves both at home and at work is invaluable. This charter and the support that goes with it is something that is needed and will be welcomed by clubs."

A Watford spokesperson said the club were "excited" at continuing their partnership with Nujum, adding: "We feel this charter will be a huge benefit to us in the support our first team, women's team and academy players."

'A gamechanger'
Nujum supports athletes with day-to-day practical requirements as well as on a spiritual basis, and individuals are provided access to Islamic scholars for any questions or assistance needed on their faith.

The organisation also sent out gift packs to all 92 clubs during Ramadan, with recipient Ayoub Assal - a 19-year-old midfielder at League One side AFC Wimbledon - calling the charter "a gamechanger".

Assal, who scored four goals in 16 first-team games during his breakthrough campaign last term, told BBC Sport: "Being a Muslim, your lifestyle is different. You have obligations like the five daily prayers within a certain time frame, and there are some things you can't do like going out to drink.

"The charter will be extremely helpful because it guarantees Muslim athletes what their rights are. They will get halal food, they don't have to think twice about going to the canteen and wondering what to eat, which is very important.

"Religion for us is very important, it is bigger than this world that we live in."

West Ham midfielder Hawa Cissoko says she has been fully supported in her time at a club where she is "loved", but feels "more happy and more strong" at being empowered by the charter.

"I feel now I have a community that supports me, I don't feel alone," she told BBC Sport.

"Through Nujum I found a friend in jockey Khadijah Mellah, and it is helpful to know there are a lot of Muslim athletes that we can share our experiences with. It is nice to speak with people on how they live and how they feel.

"Being a Muslim you have to send the right message to the people. I am representing everyone. When I am in the changing room, they don't see me - they see all Muslims.

"I have to be a good girl all the time and be the best I can be."

By Shamoon Hafez.
BBC Sport

Nwaikuku2:
I am even planning on buying xiaomi
Thank for this info...pls recommend a good phone for heavy user

Poco x 3 pro. Flagship Chipset with 3.1 ufs storage.

zed7:
If your only complaint is that he isn't a fanatic then you have no problem.
A well behaved moralist is better off than a religious fanatic without morals.

Agreed

jlinkd78:
Arrest ke. Was Dot word not patented to PMB? Buhari is helping us more with d struggle with his divisive and uncomplimentary remarks towards d Igbos. By that open admission with a crested top of a Dot Nation by Abaribe with d customized Biafra colours and d side chick Biafra map by d side, Buhari has marketed d struggle. Even the dot (.) in every O alphabet further emphasizes how proud we are. The passive but coded message being passed by this courageous but intelligent Senator in d choice of d three colours that make up d Biafran map while leaving d actual Biafran map without color shows this man is a Colossus. Imagine if Abaribe now wears a combo of Onye Dot plus Onye Spare parts

The dot refers to Ipob terrrorists and not All Igbos.

opera1:
Note 9 users : I updated my phone last night but unfortunately I l'm unable Second Space has disappeared from my phone with vital informationz. pls how doy I locate the Second Space

Vital information. . . Hmmmmm

All I see here are scammers , yahoo boys, internet fraudsters.

Even terrorist have no place there but against all odds cultism has found its way there, expect lots of deportee as long as you not there on bussiness or genuine holiday.

He's right though to an extent. Every generation has what hold them back. In there generation it was wearing old school cloths, cinema , Indian love films, playing pool etc

To be honest as I was seeing this picture I started perceiving some smell. Try to brush 3 times a day especially after eating and before going to bed. Watch what you eat.

Effect of insurgency. Almost 90 % all the victims are innocent that's why you should never sympathise with a terrorist ugm or Bokoharam

Las las na poor man go suffer am

Faber:
Adamu Garbage have been silenced the same way Pantami was silenced...

Nija no be one man personal property. But Dullards will always know this the hard way.

Pantami is still doing wonderfully well. Nigeria are there own enemy. We hate ourselves and never will there be progress with such slavery mentality.

daddytime:
A good number of these savages would have been stumping their foreheads on the hard ground on Friday chanting and blabbing incoherencies, while the others would have just gotten back from screaming and yelling at the top of their voices in their churches while disturbing God and innocent people's rest time.

You need phychatric evaluation.

Kuceeh:
Who is still interesting in this type of story. Please end insurgency for us. Not political issue

Anyway, I will Design a professional Logo or Letterhead for your Product or Company for 2k Only

It is - who is still interested . . . .

Congratulation. Patience and tolerance are key to successful marriage. And shun social media advice including nairaland.

If you have a skill say carpentry, mechanic, construction, etc there are opportunities for you as many northerners are not into hand work. Apart from that I think Lagos is better in terms of job opportunity.

Who noticed Buhari has started speaking up these days

Themainboy22:
Hausa/fulanis are busy transporting weapons to yorubaland, but tomorrow they will rather accuse the average Igbo man going about his normal business of trying to destroy lagos and yorubaland. youba ronu!.

Almost all rich Igbos residing outside igboland have fun for there safety.

Jack Dorsey will not see this one, but when they are threatened bin the language they will understand stupid sympathisers will start running there mouth.

Unknown gunmen have turned to unknown murderers

An Onitsha-based human rights group

BKayy:
This protest should serve as a mini referendum.
It is only those that believe in Nigeria and want her to work that are protesting.
As for us, our people and our land, we don't want Nigeria, we were never and will never be Nigerians, so we will never partake in anything that will make it to work.
The protest is not for us. When SW is ready to destroy Nigeria permanently, they should call us

Your region will be even worst without Nigeria

No b 2day

Wetin u dey find go Sokoto for hot sun is right inside your shòkótò.

What so graphic about the pic ? Until you visit hospital regularly you won't know what graphic really means.

Hmmm, I hope it bears the necessary benefits of a protest and not be sabotage like EndSars.

Turkey, Germany , England then maybe France.

I hope Oga Patapata is not involved ooooo . Kudos to Seun for providing us the platform to air our view no matter how controversial they seem to be. Our own very Jack Dorsey. God bless Nairaland. God bless Nigeria

No difference between them and killer herdsmen

Too bad. Defend yourself if government can't.