THE dusty streets of Dakar gave El-Hadji Diouf an escape route from the poverty of his childhood.

It was in the Senegalese capital that he was spotted scoring goals against other children as they played football barefoot.

Diouf became one of the lucky ones; he was plucked from the city's slums and taken to Europe where he began a career that eventually led him to the Reebok Stadium.

Now, the Wanderers striker is hoping to use his footballing fame to help give something back, after establishing his own charitable trust to raise money to help projects across the continent and in Bolton.

The Dioufy Foundation will hold a series of fundraising concerts, friendly matches and dinners to help raise funds for hospitals and new sports facilities.

The 26-year-old, who sported a glittering cap and diamond jewellery at the launch of the foundation yesterday, said he did not have any specific causes in mind but his first aim was help to fund football trips from Africa to Britain and aid the work of charitable organisations in Bolton..

Among those already enlisted to help is the Senegal international's fellow countryman, hip-hop superstar Akon.

The pair have known each other since they were children and the rapper was watching as Bolton beat Derby County at the Reebok on Wednesday night.

Diouf recalled his upbringing in Africa at yesterday's charity launch at the Nam Ploy Restaurant in Chorley Old Road.

He said: "I didn't come from a well-off family. Sometimes we had to go without, even in terms of eating.

"My grandmother had to go out and sell nuts to make a living so me and my brothers and sisters could eat. I was fortunate to have some talent and it has proved to be a route to help my family.

"In a way, I see it as my obligation to help others by doing what I can to give them a chance."

Diouf said he hoped that funding footballing projects in Senegal would help the country's talented footballers to follow his route to the professional game.

He revealed that sporting facilities were basic in his home country and most games involved large groups of children playing in the streets.

Diouf said: "We always played in the streets. Even when I was spotted, I was playing without any shoes and I found it difficult when I first came to Europe to play in boots.

"That is what we are up against.

"There's a huge amount of talent in Senegal and we want to give them the chance to flourish."

Diouf joined Wanderers from Liverpool on a permanent basis in 2005 having spent a year on loan at the Reebok.

He joined Liverpool in 2002 after two years playing at French club Lens.