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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Sandro Reyes: It's the small things that matter

Sandro Reyes: It's the small things that matter

Published May 25, 2025 09:00 pm

At A Glance

  • But the lack of playing fields doesn't mean the scarcity of promising talents in the Philippines, and Sandro Reyes believes it is just a matter of time before the country could see an improved status in the football world. 

Unlike any other sports the Filipinos enjoy for recreational or competitive drive, football is a unique one.

See, the "beautiful game" requires large spaces where a turf should be maintained to its finest grade. Access to the sport is also a difficult one, with schools primarily giving emphasis on basketball, volleyball, athletics, and swimming.

But the lack of playing fields doesn't mean the scarcity of promising talents in the Philippines, and Sandro Reyes believes it is just a matter of time before the country could see an improved status in the football world.

‎"There are so many ways we could do it. It would take a long time if we spoke about all of them, but I guess it's maybe just the small things," said Reyes, a Makati native who formerly studied at PAREF Southridge School.


‎"It's hard to obviously make big changes, but just all of the little things," he added. 

"Some examples may be for the national team to try and become more popular so that the kids are more motivated to do well and succeed so they can play for the national team, which is something that can be looked up to."

‎The 22-year-old midfielder, who is a member of the Philippine team, is also aware that promotion isn't enough yet but it requires added knowledge and opportunities which all need financial support.


‎"I guess more tournaments for kids to play. Maybe the professional league can get better. Again, these are all things that require money, so I think maybe we should focus on the things that don't require money," Reyes continued.

‎"Popularizing the national team, education, teaching coaches to be better so they can better prepare the kids and better coach the kids. There are a lot of ways I think that we can improve in all sports and in football," he added.‎

‎Reyes, who has been a fan of sporting great Lionel Messi since he started playing football at four, is also making big strides with FC Gütersloh in the Germany-based division league, Regionalliga West.

‎

Prior to his stint with Gütersloh, Reyes lived in Spain before returning to the country during the pandemic at 16. Three years later he tried his luck in Germany, and got the precious spot to play professionally.

‎"Our coach the other day said in an interview that you cannot make talent. Countries, whether it's the biggest, Spain, Germany, Philippines, it doesn't matter," stressed Reyes. "Regarding football, the countries don't make the talent of the players, they can just develop them."

‎"But talent is something you were born with, so naturally there are kids who are born with talented feet and can play football well, it's just about developing them more," he added.

Photographer: Jan Mayo
Producer / stylist: Jerico Villamonte
Art director: Angelo Manalo
Grooming: Bullet Reyes
Editorial assistant: Jessica Pag-iwayan
Photographer’s assistants: Matthew Mangulabnan and Xavier Yu
Special thanks to VMG Asia

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