Al-Nassr's Portuguese manager, Jorge Jesus, revealed the reason behind the team's surprising decision to hold training sessions before Iftar (the breaking of the fast) during Ramadan, describing it as a "new experiment" that came at the players' own request. Jesus's remarks, made during the pre-match press conference ahead of the team's game against Al-Hazm, sparked widespread interest in Saudi sports circles.
Background of the decision and its sporting context
Historically, Saudi clubs and athletes across the Muslim world have adapted their training programs during Ramadan to avoid fatigue caused by fasting. Training sessions are often moved to the evening, after Iftar (the breaking of the fast), to ensure players have the energy and fluids necessary for strenuous exercise. However, Al-Nassr's decision to train during fasting hours represents a significant departure from this traditional approach, reflecting a desire to explore new methods for maintaining physical fitness and technical readiness during a crucial period of the season.
The importance of the experiment and its potential impact
Jesus explained that this initiative came at the players' request, saying, "Training before Iftar is a new experience and it was at the players' request." The veteran coach added that the continuation of this approach is not yet certain, stating, "We don't know if we will continue training during Ramadan or not." This decision highlights the flexible relationship between the coaching staff and the players, indicating a mutual trust that allows for such experiments. Physiologically, training while fasting requires close and intensive monitoring by the medical staff to ensure that the players are not exposed to the risks of dehydration or excessive strain, which places a significant responsibility on the club.
Impact of the decision on competition in the Roshan League
This decision comes at a critical juncture in the Saudi Professional League, as competition for the top spots intensifies. Al-Nassr is preparing to face Al-Hazm on Saturday evening in Matchday 23. Al-Nassr enters the match in third place with 52 points, just one point behind second-placed Al-Ahli and a significant gap behind league leaders Al-Hilal. Meanwhile, Al-Hazm sits in eleventh place with 24 points. Therefore, the success or failure of this training experiment could directly impact the team's performance in their quest to catch up with the league leaders and close the gap. This makes their upcoming matches a closely watched test for assessing the effectiveness of this innovative approach to managing training loads during Ramadan.
