FC Dordrecht defender Robin Polley has decided to use some of the money he is earning to help the needy in his native Ghana.
The 21-year-old joined FC Dordrecht on a season-long loan from Eredivisie side ADO Den Haag in the summer.
Polley is making waves outside the pitch after his launching his Prince Polley Foundation which has captured the headlines in the Netherlands this week.
By setting up the Robin Polley Foundation, he hopes to be able to provide assistance on a structural basis to underprivileged children in Ghana, the country of birth of his famous father Prince Polley.
"I think that after my second season at ADO I got on a plane to Ghana with a total of fifty sets in my suitcase. I was able to provide three full academies with new competition uniforms.”
“That is the largest project I have been able to do so far When I see those kids playing in those shirts, I think this is what I did it for,” Polley continues proudly.
However, he thinks even further and bigger, partly because of a conversation with Soufyan Daafi. With his company Sport Legacy, he wants to guide football players towards a second career.
Polley indicated in the conversation with Daafi that he was happy to set up his own foundation after his career, in order to be able to offer structural help in Ghana. "Why not now?" Daafi then asked Polley.
"He was right about that, I now have an example function. Maybe other footballers can follow the initiative. It all started within a month and there are already several parties who want to support me, to see how I can arrange uniforms for those children. With the donations to the foundation I can be even more creative to get different things done.”
“I want to take it bigger, it must be broader than just sports. Previously, I did and financed everything myself, with the foundation a project leader is joining. It takes a lot of energy and I don't want it to be at the expense of my football career, because I want to get the most out of it and perform optimally."
“It all started within a month and there are already several parties who want to support me, to see how I can arrange uniforms for those children. With the donations to the foundation I can be even more creative to get different things done. I want to take it bigger, it must be broader than just sports.”
“Previously, I did and financed everything myself, with the foundation a project leader is joining. It takes a lot of energy and I don't want it to be at the expense of my football career, because I want to get the most out of it and perform optimally.”
“It all started within a month and there are already several parties who want to support me, to see how I can arrange uniforms for those children. With the donations to the foundation I can be even more creative to get different things done. I want to take it bigger, it must be broader than just sports.”
Polley's charity work in Ghana has also had a beneficial effect on his career.
He appeared on various radio and television channels in the African country and one of the questions was what his goals were. 'Breaking through at ADO and one day coming out for Ghana' was his answer.
Two months later, his first invitation to the Ghana Under-23 followed, as a result of the games in the first of ADO against PSV and Vitesse.
"It was a surprise, because I didn't play very much at ADO. There are a lot of guys who play at a high level. I unexpectedly played 90 minutes against PSV and the Under-23 coach saw me play in it, he was hugely surprised and gave me compliments my raid against Vitesse was then decisive, because a day later I got my first call-up.”