Bournemouth’s Burkina Faso winger stated that for him, faith holds a more important place than football.
Ouattara, who prays five times a day and prays before and after every match, mentioned that Islam helps him stay humble.
Speaking to BBC Africa, the player shared his perspective on Islam, saying,
“For me, faith comes first. It comes before football. It allows us to refocus on ourselves, to see what we’ve done well and what we haven’t been able to do well.”
“It also allows us to correct ourselves in society too. It allows us to stay on the right path.”
Islam Helps Him Stay Calm
Ouattara also stated that Islam helps him remain calm and stable, saying,
“Faith allows me to overcome many challenges, to respect others, to respect choices and religions too. Whether it’s on the pitch, off it with friends, or even with my family, it allows me to be calm in my daily life.”
“You have to believe before you can do something.”
A Breakthrough Season
The young footballer, who only scored one goal last season, has already scored nine goals in 30 matches this season, despite often coming off the bench. Speaking about Bournemouth’s improved form, Ouattara said,
“The secret this year is that we’ve had the same squad, virtually the same players and the same coach. It’s important to have a group that continues to develop together.”
“You can see every time that the players enjoy it. We’re going to do everything we can to go further.”
Overcoming Challenges in England
Having transferred to England from French club Lorient for $26 million, Ouattara mentioned that his biggest challenge was the language barrier, but said his faith helped him overcome the difficulties.
“My agent and I were able to find the mosque, so I started to get back into my routine. And as I came to the mosque, everything went well for me with the football. So I found myself back in the environment I’d left behind in Lorient.”
“It helps because when you find yourself in another town, having the community shows that you’re not alone. You have the opportunity to pray with other people, to meet new people. It keeps us focused on religion.”
Fasting During Ramadan
The Burkina Faso international shared his experience of fasting, saying,
“I wouldn’t say that Ramadan is difficult, it’s more mental, because personally, I’m used to doing it. It’s more the lack of water. And given that you have to wake up at unusual times to eat, that’s more tiring.”
Ouattara explained, “
“I wake up at 4:30 am, I do my ablutions, and I’ve already got the food which has been prepared by the club chef. I eat, and after prayers, I have time to go back to bed for an hour or so before training.”
“Then after the sessions, I say my prayers and sleep for another hour. So the fact that I rest each time means I recover better.”
Ouattara also emphasized how the support from his teammates and staff makes fasting easier, saying,
“It’s even easier when you have the support of the whole team, whether it’s the players or the staff. Everyone asks me, ‘How are you feeling? Is it going well? Is it not too difficult?’ They understand me and they encourage me.”
Premier League’s Ramadan Initiative
The Premier League has recently started pausing matches briefly at iftar time, allowing players to break their fasts during games.
Ouattara expressed his appreciation for this initiative, stating,
“The initiative of the Premier League is to be congratulated because it’s not easy to play while fasting. We hope that it will continue.”