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Brazil Football Legend Pele’s Family Gather at Hospital Bedside

In this file photo taken on March 09, 2014, Brazilian football legend Pele poses with the FIFA World Cup trophy during a press conference, outside the Hotel de Ville in Paris. (AFP)
In this file photo taken on March 09, 2014, Brazilian football legend Pele poses with the FIFA World Cup trophy during a press conference, outside the Hotel de Ville in Paris. (AFP)
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Brazil Football Legend Pele’s Family Gather at Hospital Bedside

In this file photo taken on March 09, 2014, Brazilian football legend Pele poses with the FIFA World Cup trophy during a press conference, outside the Hotel de Ville in Paris. (AFP)
In this file photo taken on March 09, 2014, Brazilian football legend Pele poses with the FIFA World Cup trophy during a press conference, outside the Hotel de Ville in Paris. (AFP)

Brazilian football legend Pele's family members gathered at the Albert Einstein hospital in Sao Paulo on Saturday, where the 82-year-old, widely considered one of the greatest footballers of all time, has been since late November.

Doctors said this week that Pele's cancer had advanced and that he requires care related to renal and cardiac dysfunction. His family said he would remain in a Sao Paulo hospital over Christmas.

Pele has received regular medical treatment since a tumor was removed from his colon in September last year.

"Almost all of them. Merry Christmas. Gratitude, love, togetherness, family. The essence of Christmas. We thank you all for all the love and light you send," his daughter Kely Nascimento wrote on Instagram with a picture of their family in the hospital.

Pele's son Edinho, who played in goal for Santos in the 1990s, posted a picture of himself holding his father's hand to Instagram on Saturday, with the caption "Father... my strength is yours."

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Australia's A-League to Have Ramadan Breaks again this Season

An Australian flag is pictured at its embassy in Beijing, China January 24, 2019. REUTERS/Jason Lee
An Australian flag is pictured at its embassy in Beijing, China January 24, 2019. REUTERS/Jason Lee
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Australia's A-League to Have Ramadan Breaks again this Season

An Australian flag is pictured at its embassy in Beijing, China January 24, 2019. REUTERS/Jason Lee
An Australian flag is pictured at its embassy in Beijing, China January 24, 2019. REUTERS/Jason Lee

Australia's A-League will this season again allow a 90-second pause in play for Muslim players to break their fast during the month of Ramadan if evening matches are being played over sunset.

Practising Muslim adults do not eat or drink from dawn to sunset during the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, presenting obvious challenges to professional athletes.

Sydney FC's Morroco under-23 international Anas Ouahim said the initiative, introduced by the A-League last season, was very important to Muslim players.

"It's definitely challenging. Some jobs are more physically demanding than others, and as a footballer, you do need food and water to perform at your best," the midfielder said in an A-League media release, Reuters reported.
"When you don't drink or eat for so long, breaking your fast on time is crucial -- it helps you hydrate, maybe have a date or something small to regain energy."

With Ramadan having started in Australia on Thursday night, Ouahim will be able to avail himself of the break when the ball goes out of play after sunset if he is selected for Sydney FC's match against Macarthur on Saturday.

"Especially for professional athletes, having that opportunity is really beneficial," the German-born former FC Koln player added.

"It allows me to practice my religion while still playing the sport I love, and I've found a balance that works well."