 | | Ulises De La Cruz and Wayne Rooney |
The small town of Piquincho, three hours north of the Ecuadorian capital Quito, holds only three thousand inhabitants - but as he grew up, Reading's Ulises De La Cruz was one of them. By the standards of Piquincho, De La Cruz has gone on to scarcely imaginable wealth with Aston Villa and Reading. But unlike some Premiership stars, he sends a large slice of his monthly wage packet straight home to Ecuadorian charities. The area around Piquincho has, amazingly, produced more international footballers per square kilometre than anywhere else in the world - five locals played for Ecuador in the last World Cup. But you won't find many other success stories. "In my country the people don't have anything, and football changed my life," Ulises told our reporter Sarah Sturdey. "My village needs help in everything: school, water, education, medical centres." Paying for lunch
 | | De La Cruz has funded schools and medical centres |
In fact, De La Cruz practically bankrolls his local area in the absence of any real government funding, or interest. Among other things, the money Reading pay him is currently funding a medical centre, plus the salaries of a doctor, dentist and nurse. The headteacher of the local school says De La Cruz has paid for hundreds of books, a new school roof and playground, and even finances breakfast and lunch for a hundred schoolchildren each day. De La Cruz learnt his footballing trade on a makeshift pitch of dust and stones. Six years ago fellow international Agustin Delgado set up a football academy in Piquincho, and now De La Cruz is behind a brand new sports and community centre being constructed. "It's very important for the future of the young people," he says. You can hear about the work Ulises De La Cruz is doing in Ecuador on BBC Radio Berkshire from 6pm until 7pm on Friday 26 January 2007, then Five Live Sport from 7pm. | 
