Sasman looking ahead to Eid celebrations

As a member of the Muslim faith, Yagan Sasman like his teammate Samir Nurković, the Chiefs defender has been observing the holy month of Ramadan. This is when Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset.

Sasman has been navigating through both Ramadan and the national lockdown due to the Covid-19 Pandemic. He is now looking ahead to this weekend when Muslims will celebrate the end of Ramadan with the celebration of Eid Ul Fitr.

Sasman through Ramadan has had to adapt his training regime and diet. speaking of the month long change he had to make the defender says: “I think I have managed well through Ramadan. We have our virtual team training sessions in the morning and go for a run before nine. I have maintained my sleep patterns by keeping awake in the daytime after our sessions and sleeping early in the evenings. It was vital to not sleep at odd times and alter my usual pattern.”

While Sasman maybe away from his family in Cape Town, he has been able to keep energized with a well-balanced diet thanks to help from his father and his partner. “I am quite handy in the kitchen because my father is a chef and I learnt a lot from him, so I have been practicing making my own meals,” he adds. I try to gain the nutrition I need to be able to fast and train correctly. It is the first time that I am away from home for such a lengthy time, so it helps that I can cook, my partner has been helping me a lot as well.”

With regards to his training during Ramadan he says: “I do feel the session with the team in the morning. But I have been pushing myself in the second session after I have broken my fast in the early part of the evening.  That’s when I have the energy to have a more intense session.”

With the upcoming holiday of Eid, Sasman is looking towards spending his first Eid away from his family a day which is all about social contact with family and friends, he is aware of the current social distancing and other guidelines that will need to be adhered to.

“This is going to be a different Eid in terms of how we will be able to socialize, notes Sasman. My parents and two brothers are in Cape Town, so we won’t be able to meet this Eid as a result of the regulations, hopefully at the next Eid, we will be able to host them here in Johannesburg.”

On football matters, Sasman who joined Chiefs from Ajax Cape Town at the start of the current campaign has been pleased with the way Chiefs fans have welcomed him, as well as his overall adaptation to the team.

“Being at Chiefs has been an honour,” says the fullback. “I hope to build a legacy and follow in former legends’ footsteps. My teammates have helped me a lot and the club has guided me by assisting me the players and fans have welcomed which has made my transition to the club easy.”

In conclusion, Sasman sent out Eid, saying, “A happy and blessed Eid Mubarak to all the Kaizer Chiefs fans and everyone else out there. Enjoy the celebrations.”

Kaizer Chiefs would also like to wish all our supporters who will celebrating Eid, a blessed day and Eid Mubarak to all.