Keanin Ayer's early life tilted listlessly between a haven for vulnerable children and his violent, alcohol- and drugs-ridden home.

Ayer was voted the best player at his small and unknown Swedish club, Varberg BoIS, when they won promotion to the top flight last year for the first time in their 95-year history.

Ayer is unknown back home in South Africa, primarily because he has hardly spent any time in the country since he was 12 years old.

Manchester City were one of those who replied and suggested Seethal try and place Ayer at Right to Dream, the Ghana-based academy that they had ties with.

"If a set-up with strong links to a top European club trusted us enough to say, 'come over and train,' then I was going to put my trust more with them as opposed to Keanin wanting to go [to] Kaizer Chiefs, where he would have been in the same [home] environment and unlikely to succeed.