[BERGAMBAR] Bergemanya Sorakan Bernada Islam Di Liga Perdana Inggeris

Demba Ba scored since 15 Ramadhan”

“He prays 5 times a day”

Serangkai sorakan bertali arus dilaungkan peminat di United Kingdom, ditujukan kepada insan yang sama tetapi berbeza tempat dan juga ketika.

“Demba Ba scored since 15 Ramadhan” laung penyokong Newcastle United di St. James Park melihat Demba Ba gembira meraikan jaringan ketika sedang berpuasa.

“He prays 5 times a day’ adalah ungkapan daripada sorakan khas untuk Demba Ba di Stamford Bridge ketika permainannya bersama Chelsea.

Mungkin terasa janggal kenapa perkara ini berlaku, bagaimana masyarakat di United Kingdom yang majoritinya bukan Islam menitikberatkan puasa dan solat dalam rangkap sorakan mereka seolah-olah mereka juga menjalankan kewajipan yang sama. Inilah yang kita nyatakan sebagai pengaruh.

Pengaruh cara hidup,adab,ketetapan beragama dan prinsip yang di bawa oleh pemain muslim sehingga masyarakat di sana turut mengetahuinya. Demba Ba merupakan salah seorang pemain yang boleh disandarkan untuk menjadi penyudah terbaik, biarpun tiada penampilan utama dalam pasukan Chelsea tetapi beliau tetap memainkan peranan dalam pelan jangka masa panjang Mourinho (Pengurus Chelsea).

Dalam artikel sebelum ini pastinya isu ketegasan pemain kelahiran Senegal ini dalam setiap situasi yang melibatkan hukum agama Islam dan prinsipnya menjadi hala tuju utama dan wajar untuk di contohi. Tapi kali ini kita bawakan lebih dekat pengaruh pemain muslim seperti Demba Ba mahupun pemain lain dan kesannya terhadap faktor persekitaran seperti Ultras (penyokong), pengurus antarabangsa, staf dan masyarakat mahupun penduduk setempat.

Ultras pastinya pemain kedua belas dalam setiap pasukan itulah perumpamaan yang selalu diungkapkan. Kini segalanya terbukti dengan wujudnya ‘chant’ atau ungkapan sorakan yang mengandungi unsur ibadah agama Islam yang ditujukan kepada pemain muslim seperti Demba Ba tidak kira ketika, tempat mahupun situasi.

Kepentingan ibadah yang ditonjolkan oleh Demba Ba membawa ingatan kepada penyokong mahupun peminatnya bahawa ibadah yang dilakukannya penting dalam kehidupan pemain muslim tersebut dan wajar diterapkan dalam bait-bait sorakan mereka. Ini membawa pengaruh yang positif kepada penyokong tentang agama Islam dan umatnya.

Alan Pardew contoh pengurus prihatin dan berpengalaman menguruskan pemain Muslim.
Bagi menyentuh faktor pengurusan, pemilikan dan pengaruh pemain muslim, kita mengambil contoh Alan Pardew (Pengurus Newcastle United) mengakui secara peribadi bahawa beliau mengambil kira kepentingan lapan orang pemain muslim yang menyertai pasukannya dan amat menghormati pendirian mereka setelah menimba pengalaman menguruskan pemain muslim seperti Demba Ba untuk musim dan kempen sebelumnya.

Ketika era Roberto Mancini sebagai pengurus kelab berbelanja besar Manchester City, bilangan pemain muda muslim yang direkrut bertambah seperti Abdul Razak dan Karim Rekik. Pemain-pemain ini kebanyakannya dipinjam ke kelab luar bagi memperoleh pengalaman dan mengembangkan bakat mereka.

Faktor pemilik saham terbesar di Manchester City yang berasal dari Emiriah Arab Bersatu, Sheikh Mansour juga memainkan peranan kerana semenjak pengambilan beliau isu keselesaan pemain muslim The Citizens lebih terjamin dan diambil kira.

Darsley Park Outdoor pusat latihan Newcastle United yang dilengkapi musolla.
Terbinanya surau di Direct Sports Arena (Newcastle United), penyediaan makanan ruji halal seperti ayam yang disembelih kepada semua pemain di Marseyside (Liverpool) demi menjamin kesihatan pemain muslim dan pemain-pemain yang lain, pemberian waktu untuk mengerjakan solat oleh kelab The Gunners (Arsenal), memberi gambaran jelas tentang hubung kait antara kepentingan pemain muslim dan pihak pengurusan kelab berpengaruh di liga Perdana Barclays.

Pegawai atau staf pasukan juga merupakan watak penting bagi perjalanan sesebuah pasukan begitu juga pasukan besar di liga Perdana Barclays. Tidak dinafikan ada juga antara pegawai mahupun staf yang berkhidmat untuk kelab-kelab ini beragama Islam. Sikap hormat terhadap larangan dalam agama bukan sahaja berlaku atau berinteraksi antara pemain malah pegawai dan staf kelab.

Pemain-pemain Liverpool menanggalkan jersi perlawanan yang terkena pancutan Champagne ketika meraikan kejohanan sebelum masuk ke bilik persalinan bagi menghormati seorang pegawai atau doktor muslim yang bertugas. Sikap ini wajar dicontohi dan diteladani oleh masyarakat yang prejudis terhadap Islam atau umat Islam sendiri sebagai peringatan menghormati agama lain.

Cara sambutan jaringan berbeza diamalkan oleh Demba Ba dan Papiss Cisse sewaktu bersama di Newcaslte United.
< Terbiasnya pengaruh pemain muslim kita teruskan lagi dengan adegan atau sambutan jaringan yang biasa dilakukan pemain muslim di liga Perdana Barclays, seperti bersujud. Cara sambutan gol ini kerap dilakukan oleh Demba Ba dan rakan sepasukannya Papiss Cisse yang juga beragama Islam ketika di Newcastle United, yang akhirnya di contohi oleh kanak-kanak di kejiranan St. James Park atau Newcastle United ketika bermain futsal.

Mungkin bagi kanak-kanak ini mereka tidak tahu tujuan sujud itu dilakukan atau makna di sebalik tindakan tersebut tetapi jelas mempamerkan pengaruh budaya muslim dalam masyarakat di sekitarnya.

Pengaruh agama Islam yang dibawa oleh pemain-pemain muslim memberikan satu skop pandangan baharu terhadap Islam bagi masyarakat bukan Islam. Biarpun pengaruhnya tidaklah terlampau besar atau meluas tetapi tetap boleh di banggakan. Dengan pembawaan pengaruh budaya Islam dan interaksi dengan persekitaran yang baik, pastinya hilanglah sikap prejudis terhadap agama Islam,sikap anti-Islam dan sebagainya.

Tidak kita nafikan ini adalah antara permulaan dakwah secara dasar dan pemberian pandangan positif yang kita mahu sebagai muslim sejati. Sukan membawa banyak fadhilat di samping kesihatan fizikal,rohani dan keharmonian sejagat. Majulah sukan bersama syiar Islam, Insya Allah. saiful islam/HD

Premier League: How Muslims are changing English football culture
By Rob Cowling
BBC Religion

When the Premier League started in 1992, it included just one footballer known to be Muslim, Tottenham's Spanish midfielder Nayim. England's top division now features 40 Muslim players and they are having a significant effect on the culture of the game.

On 5 February, 2012, Newcastle United played Aston Villa at St James' Park and one moment symbolised the impact Muslim players were having on the Premier League.

After 30 minutes, Demba Ba scored for the home side. He raced to the corner flag and was joined by Senegalese compatriot Papiss Cisse. The two devout Muslims then sank to their knees in prayer.

The growing influx of Muslim players has been fuelled by the internationalisation of football.



Scouts have spread their nets wider in the search for new talent and the Premier League has become a much more diverse place.

Young men with origins in remote villages of west Africa or tough estates in Paris have become global stars.

They may have found wealth and fame playing for English clubs, but many still hold on to something that is rooted in their cultural identity, something that guides them and comforts them when the going gets tough - their Islamic faith.

When a player of the calibre of Ba, who left Newcastle last year to join Chelsea, says he is serious about his religion, some might argue clubs cannot afford not to listen.

And there is a genuine willingness, on the part of managers and clubs, to understand and accommodate the religious needs of their players.

Muslim footballers are provided with halal food, have the option to shower separately from the rest of the team and are given time and space for prayer.

Until recently, all Premier League players named man of the match were awarded a bottle of champagne.

Tottenham's Nayim was the only footballer known to be Muslim in the Premier League in 1992
Yet for Muslims, alcohol is forbidden. So when Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure politely refused to accept his award on religious grounds during a television interview, the competition organisers were forced to sit up and take notice.

Champagne was phased out and now all players receive a small trophy instead.

When Liverpool won the League Cup final in 2012, players had the sensitivity to move the clothes of their team doctor, a devout Muslim, out of the changing rooms so that alcohol wasn't sprayed over them.

Yet there are challenges to managing Muslim players and Ramadan is a particular pressure point.

How can players who aren't eating or drinking for up to 18 hours of the day perform at the highest level over 90 minutes of a game?

Some players insist on fasting every day. Others may fast during training but not a match day. Clubs tend to muddle through with some kind of compromise, but it can't be an easy period for players or managers.

Arsenal midfielder Abou Diaby, 27, says: "Arsenal would prefer me to not fast, but they understand this is a special moment for me and they try to accommodate things to make me better."

Ba, 28, admits he has had some issues with managers about Ramadan, but says he has been steadfast.

"Every time I had a manager that was not happy with it, I've said: 'Listen, I'll do it. If my performance is still good, I'll keep playing; if it's bad you drop me on the bench, that's it.'"

Former Stoke striker Mamady Sidibe, 33, insists: "You have some players who are fasting on a match day and doing very well, it's no problem. I make sure that on match day I'm not fasting and not to give excuses to people."

Ramadan this year ends on 7 August, 10 days before the start of the Premier League season.

Sponsorship deals have also been a source of tension. Teams who advertise gambling and pay day loan companies on their shirts put their Muslim players in a difficult position, as it means they are being used to promote activities which contradict Islamic teaching.

Goalkeeper Ali Al-Habsi, from Oman, has played in the Premier League for Bolton and Wigan
Last month Cisse said he planned to talk to Newcastle and their new sponsors, Wonga, because he was worried his Muslim beliefs would be compromised if he were seen to promote the company.

Crewe striker Nathan Ellington, 32, who has also played for Wigan and West Brom, takes the view that he cannot affect which sponsor his club chooses.

He said: "I think that's usually out of the hands of the Muslim. Although he's not allowed to gamble, that's something you cannot affect really."

Wigan keeper Ali Al-Habsi, 31, agrees: "We are players and these are things that are coming from the football club. We can't do anything about it, we just do our job."

Fans are also getting an education in Muslim practices.

When manager Alan Pardew suggested Ba's slow start to the 2011-12 season was due to his fasting, fans picked up on it and marked every subsequent goal with a song celebrating how many goals he had scored since Ramadan, to the tune of Depeche Mode's Just Can't Get Enough.

Children playing football in the parks of Newcastle have even been spotted falling to their knees as if in prayer themselves after scoring a goal.

They may not completely understand what it means, but it's a sign that Muslim practices are becoming a more familiar part of popular British culture. -BBC