Dear friends, I'm writing this from Accra, the capital of Ghana, where I'm working as a volunteer coach with a group of about 30 underprivileged Ghanaian kids who love soccer as much as I do. They're incredible kids -- always excited to play and joyful -- but they need more than just coaching, which is why I started this GoFundMe.

These kids play on a sand field, the sides of which are used as a garbage dump. They have two balls, which are ripped, eight cones to mark the field, no nets, and they have only 15 pairs of cleats and jerseys, meaning there are many who can't play in games because there isn't enough gear to go around. Most of them don't have clean water or food to bring to practice or games, and they're playing in 30+ degree temperatures.

And yet despite all of this, they are incredible players. As someone who has coached for five years and has extensive knowledge of the soccer system in Canada, I feel confident in saying many of these players would be playing for the best teams in Canada for their age.

I am also coaching a division three men’s team here and can provide a pathway for these players to progress and get scouted. For most, if not all of these children, it is their only chance of escaping poverty.

However, I can't afford to purchase new soccer cleats, jerseys, soccer balls, cones and nets for all these players. That’s where you come in. If you can spare even a small donation, you'll make a huge difference in these boys' lives. A pair of cleats costs as little as $25 and can provide the opportunity to lots of these children to play the game they love in search of a better life! In addition, funding would also go to bringing water and basic food to games.

Any extra money raised will go to younger age groups and for taking kids to their first ever professional match here in Accra, something which none of them have ever experienced.

Thank you for considering donating to the Shining Babies Football Club and the Teshie Football Academy. We're grateful for your support.