A former footballer is to teach soccer to deprived children in Africa.

Marc Rice, his twin sister Melanie and fellow sports coach Yolandi Taylor will be setting up a soccer and netball school in Luangwa Valley, Zambia.

Marc, 30, from Peacehaven, was a professional footballer with Watford and also played for non-league Bognor, Worthing and Lewes.

He was prompted to move abroad after hearing of the plight of many impoverished children living in Luangwa Valley.

He said: "The children out there have nothing at all.

"All they do is hunt for food and, in the poorer villages, go poaching off the farmland.

"We are trying to give them something to occupy their time and give them some form of entertainment.

"We are going to teach the 15 to 18-year-olds, so they can coach the younger kids when we have gone after six weeks."

The project, called Youth Soccer in Africa, will start on July 10.

The coaching team will be joined at the end of the programme by Marc's other sister Nici, from Saltdean.

Nici, who plays for Brighton and Hove Albion's ladies team, has co-ordinated the project.

Any companies that are willing to help sponsor Youth Soccer in Africa should contact Nici Rice at 82 Northwood Avenue, Saltdean, East Sussex, BN2 8RG.