West Coast star Nic Naitanui with members of the Bakari Royals, Qadir Mohammadi, left, Matur Maker, Reuben Riak and John Bosco Sawin. Pic: Sharon Smith

Spring-heeled West Coast big man Nic Naitanui has delivered on a promise to help promising footballers from different backgrounds make their way in the game.

Naitanui became an AFL multicultural ambassador in July this year, and part of his role is helping the WA Football Commission develop a multicultural strategy.

The gifted 21-year-old spent time yesterday with East Perth's inaugural multicultural training squad, the Bakari Royals, which provides a pathway for migrant boys - who attend Aranmore Catholic College or are involved with the Edmund Rice Foundation for new arrivals to Australia - and indigenous families.

Naitanui said Bakari, a Swa- hili word for promising, was a good fit for the athletic squad which included boys from Africa, Burma, the Middle East and Afghani teenager Qadir Mohammadi who spent two months at the Darwin Detention Centre this year.

Naitanui's history makes him an ideal candidate to help.

He is of Fijian heritage, was born in Sydney and grew up in Midvale with fellow young guns Jeff Garlett, Chris Yarran and Michael Walters.

"I think a lot of these guys look up to someone they can relate to," Naitanui said.

"There's an Afghani kid who spent a bit of time in a detention centre. It's pretty tough to hear that kind of story for someone so young to go through that.

"But football is an opportunity for him, he's taken it with both hands and hopefully he can make something better of his life with the opportunities football presents."

Naitanui said he couldn't help but get caught up in the group's enthusiasm.

"They are happy and at training today and the past few weeks they haven't complained about the 30C plus heat," he said.

"They just love to be out here and to have a kick of the footy."

East Perth district development officer Brendan McFaull said the WAFL club could only benefit from the Bakari Royals.

"The reasoning behind a program such as this is simply to explore previously unexplored territory," McFaull said.