Abel Xavier Convert to Islam

Abel Xavier, former Portuguese player, has made the important decision to convert to Islam and quitting football at the age of 38. The Portugal star now wants to go by the name of Faisal Xavier and will embark on humanitarian projects with the United Nations.

Faisal Xavier, a Muslim soccer player, said: "While it's an emotional farewell, I hope to participate in something very special as I enter a new stage of my life."

"In times of trouble, I have found comfort in Islam. Gradually I learned of learned a religion that professes peace, equality, freedom and hope. These are foundations with which I identify."

Eric Abidal, Barcelona

Eric Abidal is a Muslim soccer player of French national team and Barcelona as defender. He has converted to Islam when he married with his wife, Hayet Kebir. Eric Abidal and Hayet Kebir were neighbors in Lyon, in the district of La Duchere. "All I can say is that I am happy to have a wonderful woman who has not only given his heart and two great kids, but also a religion that preaches peace" He said.

In interview conducted by Le Buteur newspaper, Abidal said about Islam and soccer.

Playing with Barca and make Ramadhan, is this possible?

Yes even with Yaya Toure we have chance to play official matches at night. We could do fasting Ramadhan in training, but never in an official match.

Is it difficult for a Muslim player to adapt to the demands of high level?

No, and examples of Muslims moving to the highest level are legion. Even in Barcelona, we both practice as well as possible the precepts of Islam by trying to reconcile these two things.

Benzema, Salihamidzic & Anelka Scoring Goal

This week, many Muslim soccer players continue their awesome performance. In Real Madrid, Karim Benzema scoring one goal to make Madrid destroys Zaragoza 6-0. In Juventus, Hasan Salihamidzic had given Juve some hope in the game with Catania, but it was not enough to prevent another defeat for Juventus from Catania 1-2. Nicolas Anelka in Chelsea also scoring one goal in the first half to bring Chelsea 2-1 win over Portsmouth.

Here are some pictures from AP.

Karim Benzema, Real Madrid

Karim Benzema was born on December 19, 1987 in Lyon, France. He is a Muslim soccer player who currently plays as a striker in Real Madrid, La Liga.

He is coming from Muslim family in Algeria. His uncle is the imam of the mosque's original village, located in Jlil Ath, 70 km south-east of Bejaia. In the late 1950s, the grandfather of Karim Benzema, Da Lakehal Benzema left the village Tighzert to settle in Lyon with his family. Karim is from the third generation of Benzema. At home everybody respects the pillars of Islam, even if he does not show it on the ground.

Lee Woon-Jae Ready for World Cup 2010

At 36 years old, Korean national team goalkeeper Lee Woon-jae is showing that he still has what it takes to compete at a high level. He has include as one of 35 players for South Korea training camps in South Africa and Spain next month. The 2002 semi-finalists has been drawn into Group B of the 2010 World Cup along with Argentina, Nigeria and Greece.

Zidane will Visit Gaza in March 2010

Muslim soccer star, Zinedine Zidane will be paying a visit to the Gaza Strip as part of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) efforts to promote peace between Palestinians and Israelis. He is scheduled to travel to the blockaded enclave in March 2010 as a UNICEF goodwill ambassador.

“I'm thrilled to be appointed by the UN children's organization as an envoy to tour Gaza Strip. I will make every effort to give Gaza residents great big smiles on their faces. Gazans have suffered serious losses, damage, and injuries due to Israeli acts of violence,” Zidane stated.

Anelka Talk About Himself

"I am not one to talk a lot, certainly not in the dressing room, but that is not being rude, it's because I am basically shy"

"Other players will tell you I don't speak too much. But they respect who I am and how I am"

"I converted to Islam when I was 16 because most of the kids in the Paris suburb where I grew up were Muslim. I don't pray in the dressing room or anything like that"

"It's a private thing that I take home with me but I like to live a good life"

"So who is the real Nicolas Anelka? I am just a simple person. I want to enjoy my football. I don't do much outside. I just go home and watch TV and sit with my friends"

"The image of me as some sort of trouble-maker is wrong. I don't go out much and you will never see me drunk"

"And on the pitch I have just one red card, when I was at City - against Arsenal!"

"For me, a good night out is at a restaurant with family and friends. That's it."

source:

Interview by ROB SHEPHERD

(www.notw.co.uk, 28/11/2009)

The Most Feared Striker Duo in Premier League

Last Premier League season, Anelka won Golden Boat with 19 goals. His partership with Dider Drogba made they are the league's most feared striker duo. Here is Anelka said about his partnership.

"For years people have seen me just as an out and out striker but I wanted to play in a pair," he says.

"I did it for that brief time at Liverpool with either Michael Owen or Emile Heskey and really liked it"

"Despite what people think I am just as happy to make goals than score them. At the moment this is what I try and do for Didier. I have changed my position"

"When we are together I operate as the second striker, almost a midfielder, and it works"

"But he tries to do the same for me when he can. People were wrong in the first half of last season when they thought there was friction between us"

"There wasn't. We just wanted to play as two strikers together like we are now"

"I won the Golden Boot last year but maybe Didier will this season. It's a partnership. When I first arrived we spoke about it but it took nearly a year for it to happen."

source:
Interview by ROB SHEPHERD
(www.notw.co.uk, 28/11/2009)

Seydou Keita First Hat-Trick

Muslim soccer player Seydou Keita scored a first-ever hat-trick as champion Barcelona got back to its best, crushing Real Zaragoza 6-1 at Camp Nou on Sunday October 25, 2009 to move three points clear of Real Madrid at the top of the Spanish League table.

Keita headed Barca ahead in the 25th minute after Messi crossed from the right. Three minutes before half-time Keita scored for his second and Barça's third from an Ibrahimovic cross. And Keita completed his hat-trick with another fine header in the 86th.

Keita said: "We showed today that we are a great team and go out to win." "On a personal level I am happy with my first hat-trick although I am not really a goal-scorer."

See the goals from this youtube link

Kolo Toure Move to Machester City

Kolo Toure, The Ivory Coast defender who had seven years at Arsenal, signed a four-year contract at the biggest spending club in England, Manchester City.

Toure, a Muslim player, said: "I felt the time was right for a new challenge and I am still at an age, 28, where I feel I am at my peak and will play my best football." Meanwhile Manager Mark Hughes said about Toure, "He is strong, quick, reads the game well and will be an influential figure in the dressing room."

Nicolas Anelka, 2008/2009 Premier League Top Scorer

Muslim striker Nicolas Anelka has been awarded the Golden Boot Award for the 2008/2009 PREMIERSHIP Season after finishing as the top scorer in England's top flight. Nicolas Anelka struck his 19th goal of the season in last weekend's 3-2 for Chelsea against Sunderland on Sunday to see him top the goalscoring charts, holding off the challenge of Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo, who bagged 18.

Prior to the visit to the Stadium of Light, the Frenchman was level on 18 with Cristiano Ronaldo. But, with the Manchester United man being rested for his side's 1-0 win over Hull City, that early strike in the north-east put Anelka in an unassailable position.

Anelka said to Sky Sprts News:

"You are always thinking, is he (Ronaldo) going to score? What should I do to score? In the last game I was thinking about it, but I stayed focused and had the chance to make this shot and it is good because it is a goal so I am very pleased."

Muslim soccer player, Anelka signed for the Blues Chelsea in the winter transfer window in 2008 from Bolton Wanderers for a fee of £15m. He managed just one league goal for the London side in his debut season, but this year has hit 25 in all competitions, including two in the Champions League.

Ibrahim Afellay, PSV Eindhoven

Ibrahim Afellay (age 22) is a muslim footballer playing for PSV Eindhoven in the Dutch Eredivisie. He has played for the Dutch national team and usually plays as the centre attacking midfielder for PSV but can also play at the right or left side due to his creative qualities.

He is considered to be one of the most existing young talents in Dutch football. In 2007 he was named as Dutch Football Talent of the Year and joined Dutch national team in Euro 2008.

Watch this video, beautiful goals from Ibrahim Afellay.

Mahamadou Diarra, Real Madrid

Mahamadou Diarra (age 27) is a Muslim football defensive midfielder who play for Real Madrid in LaLiga. On the international scene, he has played numerous matches for the Mali national team, together with Frederic Kanoute and Seydou Keita.

He is a man of faith and holds his religion, his traditions and his country in the highest regard. He celebrates Ramadhan on a yearly basis and “every coach has respected my decision,” says Diarra, “They are difficult days during which one needs to eat, but it only lasts one month. I have another ten to play well.”

Diarra donates a large portion of what he earns to Mali with the hope of building a better future for his fellow citizens.

Hasan Salihamidzic; Juventus

Hasan Salihamidžić (age 32), is a muslim football midfielder currently playing for Italian Serie A club Juventus F.C. He was born to a Bosniak family, which in the English-speaking world, Bosniaks are most commonly known as Bosnian Muslims.

His father, Ahmed Salihamidzic said about Hasan: "My son has three basic characteristics - hard work, ambition and a desire to progress - He has two faults: he's too ambitious and he can't stand to be beaten. When he's lost a match, he switches his phone off for two or three days and nobody can talk to him. Maybe that's a good thing, maybe that's the reason he's so successful."
(source: guardian.co.uk)

Seydou Keita, Barcelona

Seydou Ahmed Keita (age 29) is a muslim soccer midfielder, who is currently playing for FC Barcelona in LaLiga. He has played for Malian national team since 2000. He celebrating goal by performing the Muslim 'Sujud' or prostration to God on the field. You can see his celebration in this video, when Barcelona against Getafe.

Khalid Boulahrouz, VfB Stuttgart

Khalid Boulahrouz (age 27) is a muslim footbaler who plays in VfB Stuttgart, Bundesliga. Khalid is a Dutch player and usually plays as defender or winger. In one interview with de volkskrant newspaper, he says about Islam for him: "I try as much as possible to develop in Islam. Five times a day I pray and I read the Koran. I learn Arabic, so I can be better understood. Reading the Koran gives me peace and take the stress away. What I am up, I try to put into practice. Patience is very important in difficult times, I must especially spreading. Patience is the light."

Kanoute Support Palestine

Sevilla's star muslim striker Frederic Kanoute displayed a t-shirt with the word "Palestine" during his side's 2-1 Spanish Cup over Deportivo Coruna in the Spanish Cup. The referee gave him a yellow card for the incident which is prohibited by the Spanish Football Federation. The 31-year-old lifted his jersey to show the t-shirt with the word written in various languages after his side scored late Wednesday in what was seen as an act of support for Palestinians in Gaza where an Israeli military offensive has claimed more than 700 lives since it began on December 27.

Kolo Toure, Arsenal

Kolo Toure (age 27) is a muslim football defender who plays in Arsenal, Premier League. In one interview he said: "My religion, I am a devout Muslim, has helped me a lot to made me as a top professional player, and at the same time I know I have worked really hard"

Sulleyman Ali Muntari, Internazionale

Sulley Ali Muntari (age 24) is a muslim soccer player who plays in Internazionale, Serie A as midfielder. This Ghanaian player often celebrating his goal by performing the Muslim 'Sujud' or prostration to God on the field. As he did after scored the winning 1-0 goal against Juventus.

You can watch his goal and celebration in this video

Lee Woon-Jae, South Korea

Lee Woon-Jae (age 35) is a muslim soccer goalkeeper from South Korea. He was first choice of South Korean team in many international tournaments and now he plays in Suwon Bluewings. After blocked Spain's fourth shot in 2002 World Cup quarter-final, Lee become famous goalkeeper in his country.

Watch this video when Lee made great saved in 2002 World Cup

Frederic Kanoute, Sevilla

Frederic Kanoute is a muslim soccer striker who plays for Sevilla in La Liga, Spain. Oumar Kanoute was named the 2007 African Footbaler of the Year. He spent more than US$700,000 to buy mosque for local muslim population in Spain.

This video show Top 10 goals from Kanoute

Franck Ribery, Bayern Munich

Franck Ribery (age 25) is a muslim soccer midfielder who plays for Bayern Munich in Bundesliga. As a muslim, Ribery always raises his hands and prays to Allah swt before match begin. You can watch him in this video

Nicolas Anelka, Chelsea

Nicolas Anelka (age 29) is a muslim football striker who plays for Chelsea in Premiere League. Below is a picture when Anelka in Saudi after omrah trip.


Watch some Anelka's actions in this video, you can watch more in youtube :)

Hi

Assalamu'alaikum wr wb