The Challenge Cup will be an annual event and from next year take place at the CBF academy in Sierra Leone. This years one day tournament will see 5 of the best under-12s teams in Ghana competing with boys from the CBF. The 5 teams competing are Redbull Ghana, JMG Academy Ghana, Sporting Club Accra and two teams from the Right to Dream Academy. From next year the Challenge Cup will be held at the CBF academy ground in Sierra Leone and will be an opportunity for the best under-12 teams from around the country to showcase their skills and sportsmanship.

Right now at the Ghana academy we have 11 boys from the Craig Bellamy Foundation, Sierra Leone.

They are truly small boys, about 10-12 years of age. They are a new breed, funny as anything, spiritual, energetic; tell you how it is, and a so much fun! They make me laugh, keep me on my toes but they are wonderful young boys and I am learning more then they know from just talking with them. I cannot even imagine the life they have had growing up in a country that has just come through an incredibly long and bloody war. Having them around is benefitting many people.

Our Ghana RtD boys are learning to grow some thicker skin, the CBF boys are learning to say please and thank you, how to be patient and how to use words rather than their hands to resolve discussions! They are teaching many of us about a part of Africa we know little about. It amazing seeing the RtD family growing.

Within minutes we’ve been headlined on the Man City homepage!

Please share this new site with friends – spread the word about the work Craig and the team are doing in Sierra Leone.

The finals were played in Freetown on 6/7 Feb

Champions at U12 level were Syke Rangers – who also won the fair play trophy.

Champions at U14 level were Ibrahim FC

Craig spoke passionately about the reasons why he had started Sierra Leone’s first elite academy and development league. Ricky Hatton was on hand to support him and raise funds as were many of the City team.

Thanks from the foundation to all those who generously supported the event last night  – your contributions will make a real impact.

In recognition of his work in Sierra Leone, Craig was featured in todays times as one of the sporting heroes of the year

Craig Bellamy

This column enjoys being an unashamed, out-of-the-closet fan of Bellamy. And the fact that Ryan Giggs is shortlisted for SPOTY helps us return there. Giggs received a load of glowing media for his recent Unicef trip to Sierra Leone. And rightly so. Yet compared to Bellamy, his contribution was minimal.

Bellamy’s personal investment in Sierra Leone is going to cost him approaching £1 million. He has succeeded in putting in place the first ever structure for youth football in the country. He already has 1,600 players, he employs 40 coaches and 40 managers on the payroll and this is just the start. Next year, a new state-of-the-art football academy outside Freetown, the capital, will open. Early figures, through Unicef, show that while the average secondary school attendance rate in Sierra Leone is 21 per cent, Bellamy’s 1,600 footballers average over 80 per cent.

No, Bellamy is not going to be making money from this. No, he will not be selling players abroad. This is true genuine altruism. A heavenly act. One of the heroes of 2009.