Photo: Bowles Associates
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"When I was growing up in Piquiucho, my village in the north of Ecuador, I didn't have a great deal - there was no running water, we didn't always have money for electricity and the education system was not well organised," said de la Cruz.
"But because I was good at football, I was given the opportunity to progress and that has now brought me to England and a life I could not have hoped for in Ecuador. Football has given me a great opportunity and I want to use my position to help other people. I think that many children’s lives can be changed for the better."
"I love children. I love to see them smile. I love to see them happy. I'm very pleased to be a FIFA/SOS ambassador," added de la Cruz.
In January 2006, de la Cruz agreed to become a "FIFA for SOS Children's Villages" ambassador for Ecuador. In March 2006, he undertook his first task in this role when he joined the UK national association of SOS Children's Villages at the NEC Education Show in Birmingham. During this event, de la Cruz was awarded his FIFA/SOS ambassador certificate and also underlined his support for 6 villages for 2006.
"The SOS Children's Villages partnership with FIFA will encourage many people to support the charity and improve the situation in many of the poorer areas," said de la Cruz, who helped Ecuador qualify for the 2006 FIFA World Cup GermanyTM to mark the second time his country has participated in football's biggest tournament.
De la Cruz is looking forward to representing Ecuador in Germany and is not nervous about having to confront the hosts in the first round: "Germany is a good team but they're not that good. We had to play against Brazil and Argentina in our qualifying matches, and South America has many good teams so I'm not worried about playing Germany."