A non-league hero has returned to his homeland to bring football materials to those who have none and hope to those who need it most.

The first thing that struck Tom Nyama was the desperate poverty, the unrelenting distress that dominates the desolate slums in Sierra Leone’s cities.

The minuscule country situated in western African has been drained of its resources and had its population dispirited by a bombardment of national disasters.

The sweltering slums of Freetown’s east end expel a ferocious stench as raw sewage flows down the alleyways where children play and families gather to work or eat. The level of destitution is completely unfathomable but this remains the unsavoury reality for thousands.

Sierra Leone is among the most impoverished countries in the world; it is also one of the most maimed. In 2001, a decade of civil war left 50,000 dead and an already-deprived nation divided. In 2014, the Ebola crisis was responsible for piles of dead bodies in the streets. Such devastating issues have only exacerbated the desperate living conditions its inhabitants have to bear.

Nyama spent his entire childhood amid the civil war but the horrific scenes he witnessed at such a young age do not make his countrymen’s dire situation any easier to observe.

“The conditions are really bad. The things I see there are out of this world, you think that it can’t be real,” he said. “I was born in Sierra Leone but, after living in Europe, going back and seeing how people really live is quite a shock even for me. People are really unhappy there.

“We are still suffering from traumatisation after all this time. We are still affected by what has gone wrong and what is still going wrong. You can see this anger in people.”

Yet, when Nyama returned to his homeland for the first time in seven years, the overriding memories are not of misery. The generosity, strength and gratitude directed his way due to his charitable endeavours are what sticks in the mind.

Nyama left the country at 21 to further his education and pursue a fledging football career which had already heralded prosperous results in Africa. Now representing Metropolitan Police FC after a professional spell in Sweden, the defensive midfielder had become an invaluable member of the squad but, in December, decided he had more important issues to attend to.

“My team [made up of four individuals from across Europe] sat down and said we had to do something. We would go to Sierra Leone and organise a tournament,” he added.

“From there, we could give educational, nutritional and sanitary advice to the children. We explained to them how you should live as a footballer but also as a human being in general. Football is what they love but we wanted to show that there is a life away from the sport.”

Nyama has helped distribute footballing materials – such as kits, boots and water bottles – to those in vital need of them. His team focus on helping the youth of Sierra Leone who often have to fend for themselves and use football as a form of necessary escapism.

The country has an average life expectancy of 49 which has resulted in 22 per cent of the population being aged between ten and 19. Approximately 10,000 in this age range are found living and working on the street, with almost half of these living in the capital of Freetown.

“The end goal is to give these boys opportunities, show them love and let them know they can have a better life.” Tom Nyama

In response, Nyama set up community leagues for the underprivileged and such was the demand for organised football that 350 signed up in three days. The embryonic stages of philanthropy are, he believes, the most important in changing young lives. These young people have been scarred by false dawns before and are not so easily accepting of help.

“People start off helping but don’t continue,” he stressed. “We thought about why others were not succeeding so we went down to implement the structure ourselves instead. We decided transparency was required to gain their trust.

“I love children; they are the future. Any time I get to spend with them I make count because it is going to have an impact on the rest of their lives. The end goal is to give these boys opportunities, show them love and let them know they can have a better life.”

While the short-term achievements of Nyama’s venture may be relatively modest, he hopes to set up an academy which will allow these children to obtain a proper education and help them achieve their dreams.

“In the short-term, the structures we put in place supply footballing materials. In the long-term, we are hoping to create an academy, a facility of our own where we can take boys out of their situation to train them up and teach them the ways of life,” said Nyama.

Nyama’s project is not without sacrifices. Having been born into a family of nine to two deeply-religious parents, he grew up working on a farm outside of the cities and believes his disciplined upbringing and faith helps him to put others before himself.

EACH ONE, HELP ONE

We’re proud to be supporting people in Sierra Leone with this great cause…

The @MetPoliceFC have sponsored us with footballing materials.

If anyone can support us with this cause please RT and get in touch. pic.twitter.com/9AazpVQZpt — Tommy Nyama ⚽️Football For All⚽️ (@Tommy37753662) April 14, 2019

The decision to return to his place of birth, however, was not taken lightly. Nyama had to consider missing his daughter’s first Christmas, spending his savings on travel, putting courses in English and maths on hold, and taking time off from his full-time job.

“It was very challenging. Leaving my family at Christmas, that is a sacrifice. Putting my career at risk, that is a sacrifice. I am sacrificing now so others will do the same. If people see how much I am giving, it will be easier for them to come in and support,” he said.

Met Police FC saw letting their star midfielder go as a necessary sacrifice of their own. The Met are committed to the cause, providing copious amounts of materials despite being funded by a weekly lottery conducted by the Metropolitan Police service.

“Young players who may not have much contact with the police wearing shirts with the name of one of the most respected police organisations in the world is fantastic,” says Victor Olisa, vice chairman of Met Police FC.

“The club will continue to support Tom in every way. It is a great project and it is a privilege to be involved because we want to see as many young people as possible, whether in the UK or in Africa, enjoying the sport.”

Nyama can relish the awaiting thrills of his hard-fought career, not least because he now sees the bigger picture. The motto ‘each one, help one’ is repeated to the children who now rely on him and, rest assured, with this ubiquitous figure nearby, help will always be available for those who need it.

You can find out how you can contribute by contacting Met Police FC or Tom Nyama on Twitter.