Ramadan fast a challenge for FC Edmonton's Sadi Jalali

After running up and down a soccer pitch under a hot summer sun, water is often the first thing on the minds of the players of FC Edmonton.

However, lately, one of them has hung back. Despite the effort he puts out on the field, 20-year-old Sadi Jalali doesn't drink water after his games. In fact, he doesn't drink anything.

Aside from being a pro athlete, Jalaliis a devout Muslim. Which means during the month of Ramadan, he fasts from sunrise to sunset.

"I eat in the night what I can eat and wake up early before the sun is up," Jalali said.

With thelong summer days, Ramadan can already be difficult to observe for Muslims in northern Alberta. But Jalali said it is particularly hard when one is trying to compete the in elite sports.

"It's tough, it's very tough. You feel like the people in those third-world countries feel," he said.

"I'm very fortunate to have water and food here. And I feel I go through what they go through for 30 days."

On top of the lack of food, he said Ramadan also affects his sleep schedule. If he wishes to eat in the morning, he must wake up before sunrise.

Although he does his best to keep to his fast, Jalali sometimes has to break it. To be able to compete against other teams, particularly on hot days, he sometimes has to eat small amounts of food and water right before games.

But on most days, even when he's in training, he holds off until sunset, where he fills up on fruit and meat.

An empty stomach has not affected Jalali's performance on the field, according to his coach.

Colin Miller said that, at first, he wasn't even aware that one of his players was on such a strict fast.

"Well done to Sadi, he deserves a lot of credit for that because I would not have known, given his attitude and work rate he puts in here," Miller said.

Balancing his faith with his passion for his sport can be difficult, Jalali said. Observing Ramadan, however, has been an important part of his life since childhood and something he feels strongly about.

Luckily, he says, he has found inspiration inother Muslim players who have fasted, even when playing in the World Cup.

"For if the higher level players can do it then I should be able to do it," he said.

"In the Qur'an, our Prophet did it. He said it makes you tough, it makes you strong. And it has made me tough and strong."