de la Cruz - Your not that far?

The love affair with football is often one that can be unpredictable at times. Imagine being born out in a village in the middle of nowhere and having the ability to be a pretty decent footballer. What would be the chance that you will be scouted, or even be able to play in a proper game.
In an era where most footballers come from richly enhanced surroundings, Ulises de la Cruz is very different and it is welcomed that his love story with the game continues.
He does not go out spending his top-pound wages on fast cars and big house, but on rebuilding an entire community where he grew up.
He is back in English football after his release from Reading, playing for Birmingham City and is on a mission to raise funds for his personal charity Fundecruz.
He is a cult figure back in his native Ecuador where his charity helps the village he was grew up in. He has kindly donate around 15 per cent of each wage packet he received, for it to be sent home to fund several projects in one of the country’s poorest regions where many ramshackle homes are obvious.
But his primary quest is education. He has supplied the village school with books, a playground and a brand new roof. And each day the 100 primary children receive breakfast and lunch courtesy of de la Cruz.
He is building a sports centre to get more children to have the opportunities that he didn’t have, however disappointingly the footballers that come through the ranks are seen as assets by the governments, so their careers may not have the chance to flourish.
Now he is urging the Birmingham fans alike to help his cause.
At Reading, they agreed a day worth of collecting for the charity and a few thousand pounds was raised.
He may be known at an International player that has played in almost 100 games for his country but to the people of Ecuador, he is so much more than that.