The Bachar Houli Foundation (BHF) academy graduates within Richmond’s VFL program have been thriving both on-and-off the field while fasting during Ramadan.

For 1.9 billion Muslims globally, Ramadan is a month of reflection, spirituality, and growth. During this time, Muslims - who are physically capable – fast from sunrise to sunset.

Often greeted with misconceptions and false notions, Mutaz El Nour, Mohammed Yassine and Luke Haddara – all of whom are past Bachar Houli medallists within the Bachar Houli Foundations’ academies - have been proving that fasting for Ramadan isn’t a hindrance to high-performance and have been solid contributors to the start of Richmond’s 2024 Smithy’s VFL campaign.

Part of the BHF’s commitment to educating the wider Australian community is its annual Iftar dinner during Ramadan at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).

This year, all three BHF academy graduates were present at the event with their mentor and Foundation founder Bachar Houli, as well as Richmond VFL assistant coach Mohammad Kaakour, who is also a practising Muslim and fasts during the month.

Luke Haddara, 19, who signed his playing contract in March after impressing as a train-on for Richmond VFL in 2023, has found strength from fasting during the month.

“It hasn’t been as bad as I thought it was going to be…I actually feel my energy levels boosted," Haddara said.

"Of course, the hunger and thirst hit you during the day – sometimes just before training (at night).

"But obviously for me, because the purpose of Ramadan is to learn patience, it (the lack of nutrition during the day) hasn’t got to me mentally, and I think it correlates with how I’ve been going about things physically.”

Haddara has utilised the opportunity to educate his fellow teammates and staff about Ramadan over the past few weeks, and he is feeling the support.

“The Richmond VFL team has honestly been amazing towards me during Ramadan, especially the staff and players.

"They ask a lot of questions and are very eager to learn and are supportive of it.

"I couldn’t ask for a better team to be with.”

Despite the lack of nutrition and hydration during the day, high-octane small-forward Mohammed Yassine believes that he has always played his best football during Ramadan.

“I do feel like I perform better during the month of Ramadan because I draw so much strength from having a closer relationship with God during the month and I feel so much lighter on gamedays and training, even though the thirst does come to mind," Yassine said.

"The ability to push through and my willpower goes to another level.”

Compared to his regular routine outside of Ramadan, Yassine has adjusted things such as his sleep schedule, workout plan and diet.

“Getting up early in the morning and taking in all of the nutrients I need to get me through the day, through training and gameday…getting the gym done to maintain weight, and the ability to make a strict routine and stick to it so that I’m up and going for the day."

Like Yassine, vice-captain Mutaz El Nour feels as if he takes his game to another level during the month.

“We hear from people like Bachar (Houli) and Adam (Saad) who say that they play their best football during Ramadan, and that’s exactly the same as me," El Nour said.

"I feel as if I’m in a good headspace, have no worries, have the right intentions and I feel more free, and not as worried coming into game day.”

El Nour pinned one of the biggest challenges of fasting while performing at VFL level down to the heat.

“Trying to beat the heat can be hard…it does get pretty hot at times, and it becomes challenging fasting at those times.

"Obviously, we did play in Gold Coast recently in 33-degree heat which wasn’t ideal. It’s a challenge.”

In front of his teammates, coaches and staff in a team meeting, El Nour recently had the chance to speak about Ramadan and educate them on what the month looks like for practising Muslims such as himself and his teammates.

“Most of the boys did not know that some of us in the team were fasting, so I had the opportunity to speak up in front of everybody in one of our team meetings and talk about what Ramadan is and what we have to do during the month.

“I will always be grateful to the Richmond VFL team and staff for allowing me to be who I am and to practice the religion I practice in an environment like this.”