07 Jul 2014
In course of Aspire Zone’s Ramadan activities Qatari kids and teenagers had the chance to learn American Football skills from Kansas City Chiefs defensive back Husain Abdullah at Aspire Dome on July 7. “It’s an honor to be part of the Ramadan Sports Festival and I am very impressed by what I have seen here so far,” said Abdullah who has competed in the National Football League (NFL) for several years and played for the Minnesota Vikings before joining the Kansas City Chiefs in 2013.
The US-American player has also demonstrated in the past how he balances a professional sports career with his Islamic faith. “Worshipping Allah always comes first for me. With American football being a sport I love, I must find balance to make sure that my enjoyment of sport does not interfere with my worship of Allah. So in order to be able to perform during Ramadan it is very important to watch what you eat, drink and you have to get the right amount of sleep. Basically, if you take care of your body, it can be done.”
This year the Ramadan Sports Festival also includes a Flag Football tournament, which is a variation of American Football, on July 8 and 9. Khalid Abdullah al-Sulaiteen, CEO of Aspire Zone Foundation said: “As AZF is the premium sports destination in the region, we always try to be a platform for different sports and introduce new ones to our community. American Football is one of those games we are providing support to encourage and spread. So far, it received good turnout and we hope it continues to do.”