Wool Reyes: the Team Socceroo visionary

MANILA, Philippines – After the passing of one of the pillars of their club a few years back, current Team Socceroo club director and team manager Nicholas Reyes recounts how his brother helped mold their organization to what it is today.

“Wool Reyes left us a great blue print to continue the growth and development of the football club,” said the younger Reyes about his deceased brother.

“To be honest, it is challenging not having Wool around but we are always doing our best to make our football club more professional and world-class.”

Jose Gaudencio “Wool” Reyes, the 4th of 9 siblings, was a veteran in the local football scene and was a passionate advocate of spreading the love of the sport to the Philippines.

The local community was stunned when he passed away on March 18, 2013 due to cardiac arrest as a result of brain aneurism.

According to Nicholas Reyes, his brother was the visionary of what is now a fully functioning football organization that does not just focus on their UFL campaign but also on the development of grassroots football in the country.

“He was the visionary and co-founder of Team Socceroo Football Club, a local football club based in Metro Manila that focuses on grassroots, youth development and the professional team.”

Wool was one of the pioneers of the sport here in the country after he established the program of the collegiate futsal powerhouse, University of Asia and the Pacific.

Aside from his involvement in the different aspects of the sport, he was also the one who brought the world famous Spanish football school FC Barcelona Escola to the Philippine shores.

“He realized that the only way for football to grow just like in Europe is through grassroots football. That is why he would always support and champion grassroots football in the Philippines. He believed that the next Azkals will come from the grassroots locally and in the province.” Nicolas ended. – Rappler.com