Avram Grant to decide on possible Yom Kippur absence
Avram Grant will decide next week whether he will observe Yom Kippur, the Jewish holy day, and so miss West Ham United’s league visit to Stoke City on Saturday week.
Yom Kippur falls on 17-18 September and involves a 25-hour abstention from eating and working. West Ham have so far lost their opening three Premier League games and face the difficult visit of Chelsea, the champions, on Saturday.
This raises the prospect of Grant’s team still being pointless and bottom going into the Stoke match. When the Israeli took over from José Mourinho to become Chelsea’s manager in September 2007 the team’s first match was at Old Trafford against Manchester United, who were then the champions.
Grant observed Yom Kippur and flew to the game by helicopter to be on the bench. While Grant will take the decision next week, it is understood that if he does observe the holy day and is not in the dugout at Britannia Stadium he will ensure the team is prepared particularly meticulously.
From the Guardian














