(JollofNews) – Young children in the Gambia are getting life-changing support thanks to one selfless British couple.
Craig and Isabel Goodman of Burry Port, have expanded their successful Afia Banjul Football Academy Foundation this month.
Mrs Goodman, who works for the Llanelli Star and South Wales Evening Post, said the academy had now opened its first branch of the group — the Afia Sanchaba Football Academy Foundation.
The group will continue to enable children to participate in sports and provide them with essential educational equipment.
Each year the couple collect hundreds of unwanted sports kits, boots and books to donate to children in the African nation.
Mrs Goodman said: “We are extremely pleased to be expanding the academy to help even more children.
“This will give children from other areas the chance to join the academy.
“We are excited to see how that will continue to grow and we would like to thank everyone for their support in enabling this branch to officially launch.”
This comes after the original Afia Banjul Academy saw its membership soar from just 25 when the group was formed in 2013, to over 250 this year.
During a recent 12-day trip to the Gambia the couple presented the coaches and the academy elite team with their new kits.
And the budding sportsmen are certainly in good company, as their latest kits have been sponsored by Exo Technologies, which sponsor Swansea City’s Modou Barrow.
The academy was also presented with books donated by both Ferryside and Narberth schools.
Mrs Goodman said: “We are still collecting football kits and football boots for hard ground for both adults and children. You can donate these to the Llanelli Star office on Cowell Street.”
In a bid to boost fundraising further the couple is also holding a fundraising curry evening at Masala Restaurant, in Llanelli, on April 28 from 7pm.
For tickets contact 07825842981.
Courtesy of the Llanelli Star
