watch Ahmed on Thursday.

[saintbrat]

This week on Marngrook

This week on Marngrook, we celebrate the AFL's Multicultural Round, with special guest Ahmed Saad plus Natham Grima & Peter Daicos joining the Marngrook Panel.

Ahmed Saad was a late bloomer to AFL, having only picked up a football at the age of 16.

However, he’s no stranger to being an elite sportsman. He was born to Egyptian parents in Australia, but grew up in Egypt playing representative soccer.

Upon moving back to Australia, he decided to play Australian Rules because his friends needed more numbers for their team. It was at inner-city Preston (Melbourne) with the Northern Bullants that he caught the eye of AFL’s recruiters, kicking 50 goals during the 2011 season.

The 22-year-old impressed last year during the AFL Draft Combine recording the fastest 20m sprint time.

St Kilda secured the speedy small forward during the 2011 Trade Week period as part of the same deal which saw Terry Milera join the Club.

He is a well-balanced and skillful player who thrives on tackling hard and maintaining forward pressure. Saad is only the second practicing Muslim and first Egyptian to be on the AFL playing List. This year he was nominated as one of the AFL’s Multicultural Ambassadors.
http://www.marngrookfootyshow.com.au/

[saintbrat]

http://www.saints.com.au/news/newsartic ... fault.aspx

STEPPING out on the football field in the red, white and black won’t be the only thing on Ahmed Saad’s mind next month, as the Egyptian Muslim begins one of his most important cultural events for the year; Ramadan.

Ramadan occurs during the Islamic lunar calendar’s ninth month and every day during this month Muslims around the world spend the daylight hours in complete fast.

Ahmed has been taking part in the ritual for his whole adult life, and said he is looking forward to the challenge this year of fasting, and training simultaneously.

“I’ll speak to the coaches and Burgey (Peter Burge, Saints’ Elite Performance Manager) about it, seeing the nutrition side of things and what I should be eating at night,” Ahmed said.

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Plus video

[Sunil_saint]

He presented very well tonight, bubbly and enthusiastic speaker with that ever mischievous grin. Great sense of humour to boot. Born into a sporting family which is an asset. ......I can now appreciate where his other deft foot skills come from when he stated that he was a soccer player until at least 16yrs .
I feel lucky that we grabbed him first..............

[Wrote for Luck]

extremely likeable guy

[felix]

During Ramadan you fast during daylight hours that also means no fluids which may make game day hard due to
The risk of dehydration . Hopefully there are more night games in this period.

[supersaints]

We should get Ramadan moved to the cricket season.

[Con Gorozidis]

Seems like a top bloke. Glad we got him!

[Sunil_saint]

Just realised too that he will be "at home" with our colours.............

Egyptian Flag : Red White Black

[saintbrat]

[sasaint]

Ramadan is from Friday, the 20th of July and will continue for 30 days until Saturday, the 18th of August. This will be tough for Saad on any day games. No problem for games after sunset.

[SainterK]

Also, Kosi on the couch Monday night

[ozrulestrace]

What a lovely smile.

Such a contrast to some of the grim faced legends who will never crack it for a smile. (C. Judd!)

[8856brother]

We should get Ramadan moved to the cricket season.

Good idea. Although we do have plenty of night games. How do we handle twilight games. Starts in daylight hours, finishes at night, but the whole game is played under a roof with the lights on. Good luck.

[saintbrat]