A BBC 2 documentary exploring how football and animal care is helping to end poverty in Africa reveals the journey that Professor Stuart Reid, Dean of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at the University, and BBC Scotland's sports presenter Rhona McLeod made to the remote village of Sambel Kunda in The Gambia in July of this year.

The humble donkey is a lifeline in The Gambia, and when properly cared for can earn a family a healthy income. Ten years ago there were few donkeys and horses in The Gambia because of tsetse flies that transmit a deadly disease similar to sleeping sickness in man. Now tsetse is more controlled there are around 40, 000 donkeys and 30, 000 horses in the country. However, their owners have no culture of caring for them and so the animals are often failing to survive because of ignorance rather than maltreatment.

University of Glasgow vets have a long tradition of working in this region, having forged strong links with The Gambia Horse and Donkey Trust. Former members of the Department Professors Ian McIntyre and Max Murray were amongst the first to visit in the 1970's and the education and advice that they gave is still praised to this day.

Education is vital to teach the people how to care for and treat their animals and their ailments. Football is a passion in The Gambia so in a bid to inspire the children to care for and bond with the donkeys, they have been encouraged to name their donkeys after their favourite players. In the village at present there is a Beckham, Rooney, Van Nistleroy, Giggsy and Wenger, to name but a few.

Within the village of Sambel Kunda it is now highly competitive to have the best donkey. As a result, families are generating more money than ever before. Production has increased by 500% since the naming of the donkeys became the norm. The Scottish Football Association and Sir Alex Ferguson learnt of the positive work the team of vets were doing in The Gambia, and supplied the children of the village with football strips and jerseys.

Professor Reid travelled to markets with members of the The Gambia Horse and Donkey Trust to help treat the sick and injured animals and to supply equine equipment such as head collars, donated from Scottish riding schools.

"Gambian Goals ﾖ A Donkumentary" is to be shown on BBC 2 Scotland on Tuesday 6 September at 8.30pm.

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First published: 25 August 2005