THE founder of a Knutsford-based charity that has built schools in Africa has moved into the world of football in his next step to help children in his homeland.

Davy Chilakalaka, of Woodlands Drive, set up the charity, Kasupe – with wife Sally – in 2007 and has raised more than £30,000 to build schools in Malawi.

The charity is helping to relieve poverty through education in Malawi and supports Chigonele, Davy’s native village.

Davy was born and raised in Malawi, and received assistance from a church group, which led to a scholarship to study in England.

He has now teamed up with Mobberley resident Karen Baker to set up ‘Goals to Excel’ – an organisation that will help kids from Malawi who might be less academic to learn football skills.

Davy, who is a FA Level 2 licensed football coach and coaches at Egerton Youth Club, said the new academy would also have a school attached and will produce boys and girls with good all round life skills.

“The way forward is for us to go back to Malawi in February and set up a well structured league within the villages and through that we will then have the schools,” he said.

“It’s not about just football but it’s about getting them into coaching, refereeing and in Malawi we are lacking a well structured progression programme, so we hope this will be it.”

Karen added: “Davy wants to give something back to Malawi and he knows there are kids who are less academically able and setting up soccer schools there will mean we can offer life skills as well as coaching.

“We’ve got 10 boxes of kit but we will be setting up another site at Egerton Youth Club in February.”

A wheelie bin is currently outside Booths to collect football boots, football kits, footballs and any other football related items you can think of until January 13, which will be sent to Malawi so the children can have the correct equipment.

l For more information visit goalstoexcel.org.