Ali Abdillahi

WHEN Somalian asylum seeker Ali Abdillahi was fostered by Mary and Dave Hart at 13 he could barely speak English.

In the four years since, the 17-year-old has not only mastered the English language, but achieved nine GCSEs, a BTech sports diploma at North Warwickshire College and was a Young Community Hero finalist in the Telegraph's 2010 Community Awards.

It is Ali's dream to become a professional footballer.

At 13 he was spotted by scouts and signed for Coventry City football club's academy. Fostering team social worker Sandra Gilchrist said: "Ali is an amazing young man. The first time I met him he had only just come into care and one of the few possessions he owned was a pair of football boots which were falling apart.

"Within a couple of years Ali was playing for Coventry City Academy and was sponsored by Adidas who bought him six pairs of football boots!"

CR