Chris Helps Put Youngsters On The Ball

A Sunderland charity worker travelled thousands of miles to help kick off a new football initiative for poverty stricken youngsters in Africa. Accountant Chris Woods, from Ashbrooke, spent more than a week in Ghana - which hosted this year's Africa Cup of Nations competition - organising coaching sessions and football matches for dozens of sports-mad schoolchildren. Working with the Sabre Charitable Trust, the 26-year-old and two pals helped bring together players, coaches and teachers for the inter-school league in Elmina, a town on the Gold Coast. "We tried to run the event at the same time as the Cup of Nations," said Chris. "And the sessions provided local coaches, teachers, players and their teams with the skills and equipment needed to practise and play. "A total of 48 coaches and teachers, countless players and three communities united for their love of the game. "Many children played in bare feet. Coaches would hold sessions only having one ball to use with 30 children. "Children would walk for up to five miles to be able to practise and play in safe conditions. "Our experience enabled us to realise the passion that individuals, both young and old, have for football and how it can unite people to achieve more." This month, Ghana was the focus of the footballing world when it staged the prestigious Africa Cup of Nations, featuring Premier League stars such as Michael Essien , Didier Drogba and Kolo Toure. However, most fans in the country were too poor to go to matches and some group games were played in almost deserted stadiums because of ticket prices. Chris said that many people in remote villages have to walk miles just to take part in local games and there is also a shortage of kits and equipment, with youngsters often playing in their bare feet. "Our aim was simple," he said. "We wanted to leave as much equipment - balls, kits and coaching equipment - as possible and provide the knowledge to enable the teams to coach and play football long after the Cup of Nations had been lifted. "With individual fund-raising and valued help from local groups such as the Sunderland Lions Club, we were able to raise nearly ?1,000. "The money will provide benefits to the whole community, with the cost to take coaches and players to games being no more than ?1 per person and coaching packs costing up to ?25." Chris and his friends also handed out donated Newcastle and Sunderland strips so youngsters could play out their own Tyne-Wear derby.