Sandro Reyes and Amani Aguinaldo will be among the ASEAN All-Stars set to face Manchester United on May 28 at Bukit Jalil Stadium in Malaysia.
The Filipino duo have been standout performers for the Philippine Men’s National Football Team in recent months, leading to their selection by ASEAN Champion coach Kim Sang-sik.
“It’s a big honor for me personally, but first I have to thank the entire team and staff, as I’m not able to perform without all of them, so each person deserves this as much as I do,” said Reyes.
“It’s the culmination of a lot of hard work not just this whole season, but over the last year too. To be able to end the season in a fun game like this feels like a nice reward.”
The match offers a rare opportunity to not only play alongside Southeast Asia’s finest, but also to compete against one of the most storied football clubs in history — 20-time English champions and three-time European champions, Manchester United.
(C) AFC
“Even though it’s just a friendly, it’s still Manchester United, so I hope it could inspire a lot of kids in the country to see that it’s possible to have success in this sport and be on the same field as the best players in the world, even if we come from a non-football country,” added Reyes.
“I’m happy and grateful to be selected and to be given such a great opportunity,” said Aguinaldo.
The 22-year-old Reyes earned his spot on the ASEAN All-Stars following a strong season with Gütersloh in Germany, where he established himself as a regular fixture in the squad.
Meanwhile, the 30-year-old Aguinaldo recently helped Rayong retain its place in Thailand’s top division.
Both players played crucial roles in the Philippines’ historic ASEAN Championship campaign, which saw the country return to the semi-finals for the first time in six years and record a landmark victory over Thailand — their first in five decades.
Following the match in Malaysia, Reyes and Aguinaldo will return to the Philippines to join the national team in a crucial AFC Asian Cup Qualifier against Tajikistan on June 10.
