Dover defender Seth Nana Twumasi is on a mission to help change the lives of under-privileged children in Africa.

Twumasi founded the Phoenix Academy in Ghana in 2018, giving opportunities to youngsters living in poverty through football.

In just four years he’s seen 14 boys earn scholarships to study and play in America, including Isaac Bawa, who is now playing for David Beckham’s old club, LA Galaxy, in MLS.

“He didn’t really have much at home, even a square meal a day was a problem for him,” recalls Twumasi, who has four people working for him in Ghana.

“We took him into our campus where we accommodate all the boys.

“We train them, we feed them, we managed to get him a scholarship and now he’s playing for LA Galaxy.

“It’s a big transition from not being able to get a square meal a day at home to all of a sudden living his dream as a professional football player."

George Asomani, who trained with Maidstone during Twumasi’s time at the Gallagher, recently joined San Jose Earthquakes in MLS, Emmanuel Owusu is with Ukranian top-flight side Metalist and there’s also interest from Cyprus in two boys.

Twumasi moved to England from Ghana, aged 10, starting his career at Chelsea, but he has never forgotten his roots.

He provides food and accommodation for 30 players on campus in Accra while, in May, the academy opens up to children from all over Africa for a two-day showcase event which is attended by coaches from America and Europe.

Twumasi has launched a fundraiser for the event which will help with the cost of kit, equipment, pitch hire, transport and food and drink for the boys.

He’s had help in the UK from clubs he’s played for over the years, including kit from Maidstone and the promise of boots from the Chelsea kitman, while former Stones team-mate Lee Worgan has been a big support.

Indeed, Sevenoaks Preparatory School, where Worgan teaches, have raised £780 to buy kit and equipment.

“It gives you the motivation to keep pushing because, since I started, I’ve pretty much funded the whole thing with everything I’ve been earning,” said Twumasi, who played in the Football League for Yeovil, Peterborough and Northampton.

“To see team-mates and other people chipping in with a bit of help gives me the motivation to carry on going.

“If you speak to any of the boys, they will tell you how much they appreciate everything that everyone has done for them.

“Growing up in Ghana is a lot different to here in the UK.

“Once you hit six-years-old, we have this African pattern when you start doing chores.

“If it means walking miles to go and fetch water to help the family, or going to the farm to help the family, it’s a big, big difference from here to Ghana.

“I think about my childhood a lot.

“I wouldn’t change it because being born in Ghana is why I relate to these kids and do what I’m doing, to benefit their lives.

“You get a lot of people contacting you wanting help for their kids and stuff like that.

“Financially it can strain you a lot because they want help for their kids but they haven’t got anything, so sometimes the visa application process relies on me, but when you see the reward of somebody being able to sign a professional contract, it’s a joy.”

The showcase takes place on May 27-28 and presents youngsters, inspired by the success of Bawa et al, a genuine chance to change their lives.

“I host the showcase in Ghana every year and I bring coaches from America and Europe to come and watch and select players,” said Twumasi.

“If they deem them good enough, some of them get offered a scholarship or an opportunity to go on trial with clubs and if they’re good enough they get signed.

“If they’re good enough for a scholarship, they go and study and play football, hoping to get in the MLS draft.

“At my academy we house and accommodate and feed 30 kids, which is all we can afford at the moment.

“But the showcase is an opportunity for everyone to come along, it’s for players from all over Africa to come and showcase their talents.

“If any of them get selected, they get an opportunity to go and better themselves abroad.

“It’s a massive commitment but we’ve had so many people contact us wanting to come on board.

“You can’t accommodate everyone in the academy, so I’ve kind of held back on numbers, but I decided to do the showcase so we can let everyone come along and that’s where the idea came from for the fundraising.

“The coaches come over through contacts in football and success stories of the boys who’ve gone to America.

“Because of their performances and how humble and well-behaved they are off the pitch, it brings you a lot more contacts.”

To donate to the fundraiser, click here.