Craig Bellamy's African dream
Liverpool striker Craig Bellamy has spoken for the first time of his pioneering charity work in West Africa ahead of a two-part television documentary which starts on ITV1 Wales this evening at 19.30 pm and continues next Tuesday, 20th September 2011.
In the past three years, the Wales international has played an important role in developing youth football in Sierra Leone and his Foundation is eager to build upon the success of the 84-team league stretching over four regions nationwide.
Tune in tonight to learn more about the charity that was born in the aftermath of Liverpool's defeat in Athens back in 2007.
"I was on the bench for the Champions League final for Liverpool in 2007. I didn't get to appear. I was disappointed not to appear. I was at my wit's end," said Bellamy when explaining the inspiration behind the project.
"I had a mate working in Sierra Leone and he said 'why don't you come out and see me?' and I fell in love with the place.
"It really scared me but I felt I had to do something. If I didn't I'd regret it for the rest of my life.
"The poverty is another level. It made me want to do something about it. To qualify to play in the league they need to go to school - it's not about football, it's about education.
"It's been a massive success, truancy rates have gone down and Unicef say it's one of the best things that has happened to Sierra Leone."
He added: "I've never done a documentary before, I felt totally out of my comfort zone but it was something that had to be done.
"I'm a private man - who you see on the pitch is not who I am off it - so making this has been a learning experience for me as well.
"My parents were great, my dad gave me everything. What I'm trying to do is to give the same support to my boys in Sierra Leone so they can make a success out of their lives.
"What I love about the people of Sierra Leone is that they see a future for themselves."
The show comes while three players from the academy - 14-year old centre-forward Mustapha Bundu, central midfielder Santigie Koroma, 15, and Sulaiman Samura, a 14-year-old centre-back - are spending a six-week training placement at Cardiff City and staying with Bellamy's family.
The two-part documentary follows the livewire striker on a 10-day visit to Sierra Leone in June this year. The first episode of the documentary shows Craig travelling from his home in the Vale of Glamorgan to West Africa, and includes footage of him meeting the girls teams playing in his League, as well as an amputee football team, victims of vicious machete attacks during the 11-year war.
Cardiff-born Bellamy, who spent last season on loan with the Bluebirds added: "Everyone there has a story about the war-with a war that's only 10 years old you are bound to have people who are affected by it.
"But what I love about the people of Sierra Leone is that they see a future for themselves"
For more information about the Craig Bellamy Foundation, and to find out how you can help support its work in Sierra Leone, please click here>>