Nine-year-old Pinoy gets prestigious scholarship from elite Spanish football academy

Nine-year-old Sandro Reyes made history as the first Southeast Asian to receive a prestigious scholarship from the football academy of FC Barcelona, one of the largest football clubs in the world.

 

Sandro will be leaving on September 16 for Barcelona where he will be training for three years.

 

To celebrate his feat, his father Edmund Reyes prepared a send-off party together with Sandro's classmates and teachers at the all-boys Southridge School in Alabang.

 

In a report of Athena Imperial over GMA Network's “Balitanghali” news program, Sandro said he was happy about going to Barcelona. Edmund said he had mixed emotions about his son's situation.

 

“Masaya na may halong lungkot.  Tulad nang sinabi ko doon sa entablado kanina, may kasamang malaking sakripisyo itong pagkakataon na ito,” Edmund said.

 

“Siyempre malaking chance ito para sa kanya na magdevelop bilang isang manlalaro nguni't yung pamilya naman ay magkakawatak-watak,” he added.  

Excels in sports and academics

 

Luden Salamat, one of Sandro's teachers, describes the young football player as an all-around person who excels both in sports and academics.

 

“One thing that were very proud about Sandro is that he’s not just an athlete. Hindi lang siya atleta, magaling din siya sa klase,” Salamat said.

 

“In fact, honor student siya, consistent. Simula nung nagsimula siya sa Prep hanggang ngayon sa Grade Four,” he added.

 

Salamat said they were sad that Sandro was leaving but that they fully support him.

 

“Siyempre masaya pero malungkot kasi we will lose a very good athlete but masaya because we know that he will do very well in Barcelona," Salamat said.

 

Another teacher, Ryan Lorenzo, said, “Si Sandro yung tipo ng player na magaling talaga sa positioning." "Actually kanina dito sa tribute program niya sa school medyo naiiyak ako kasi talagang ang treatment ko kay Sandro at sa lahat ng teammate niya is actually parang mga anak ko na,” Lorenzo said.

 

“Mawawalan ako ng isa but still iniisip ko kasi for the best naman,” he added.

 

His classmates, excited over Sandro's new adventure, said, “Goodluck Sandro, we wish you all the best in Barcelona!” - VVP, GMA News