There's more to charitable Craig Bellamy than meets the eye

Plenty of footballers give a lot of their time to raising money for charities. Craig Bellamy deserves as much credit as any of them.

Bellamy used to have a bad habit of attracting the wrong kind of attention but when I bumped into him at the Manchester City training ground last week, I realised again his public image is all wrong.

Instead of speaking about altercations with fans or practising his golf swing in the direction of a team-mate, we talked about the fantastic work his Craig Bellamy Foundation does with children in Sierra Leone, one of the world's poorest countries.

Bellamy isn't just an absentee donor, either. He spends part of every summer there, overseeing the work that has been done so far. Forget all the bad publicity about the Premier League's most talkative footballer. There's a lot more to him than meets the eye.

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