Steve Pugh,a 21 year old graduate from Liverpool, became a volunteer on a football schoolin Quito, where he trained children from the age of 4 to 16 the art offootball. Tom Nicolson talks to the 'red' from England.

Steve Pugh,a chunky built graduate from Liverpool, England, turns up to the interview inhis Liverpool shirt. Clearly a die hard red and immediately springs into lifeon his passion for football and his sides chances in the forthcoming ChampionsLeague final in Athens.

The 21 year-old has taken his passion and put it into the grassroots of Ecuadorian football, where he takes his own class of youngsters to teach them the basics.

The school where he volunteers is one of the best in the country, lacking only behind the professional teams of Ecuador. Professional coaches, an ex-pro and even a psychologist are all hired to run the school of 60 for children between the ages of 4 and 14.

'The psychologist talks to the children about the mental aspect of the game', says Pugh. 'One time, he talked about having a blank mind when taking a penalty,which was very professional I thought.'

Pugh, whowas given the choice to run his own team, had a group of children to teach. 'They thought I was a professional scout from England at first, who had come to evaluate their performances, but soon after they realised that I was just there to help. They became relaxed with me and started swinging on my arms and jumping on my back. I think it's good to have this kind of relationship.'

One of thethings the Liverpool man was conscious about was to include all the children inall the exercises. 'Sometimes they lose concentration which is when I feel Ihave to change it. I allow them to pick up the ball or have three in a goal and that way it gets them motivated again.'

Pugh is always an active person with the children and has always been keen for the children to learn, even picking a child up and carrying them to the rightposition. 'The Ecuadorian kids here always give 100% unlike in England where they will give 'back chat' to their coaches,' remarks Pugh. 'Here, the players arrive and will shake every hand before they start play.'

'It has been a fantastic experience,' says Pugh proudly. 'When I first arrived here I couldn't speak Spanish, but I am now accepted as an equal to the coaches which is tremendously rewarding.'

Pugh's roleevolved in his final weeks as coach to become a mentor and friend and not justa coach. 'A lot of the children come to talk to me now about things in theirlives and I'm really happy to listen,' he says modestly.

At $1400, however, Pugh was a little displeased atthe price that he paid when he touched down in Ecuador. 'The experience was oneI'll never forget, but I was a little disappointed to come out here to find that I could do a similar kind of thing for less than half the price', comments Pugh.