Malagueño, from El Palo. Sebastián Fernández Reyes, known as Basti. After many years of delight and passion for this sport, now he sees it from a very different perspective, but just as emotional. With the honour of being Málaga Club de Fútbol’s highest scorer at La Rosaleda, he has spent half of his life with the Entity. The number ‘10’ is an idol, as a player and as part of the MCF Foundation.
At Tesesa’s facilities, Basti looks back on his professional career and his personal life. From how Juanito captured him for CD Málaga to his work with the MCF Foundation today.
As with Duda, this isn’t your typical interview. Basti uncovers various objectives within the wardrobes at TESESA. His most treasured possessions and sentimental trophies that narrate the stages of his life. The MCFTV cameras captured the action as Basti took the objects out one by one and told the stories behind them.
Basti talked about how Juanito saw him play at the San Ignacio Stadium with Centro de Deportes El Palo and wanted him for CD Málaga. Basti knew what he wanted, with the level of confidence that only the best have: “A kid from El Palo who made his dream come true. He asked me (Juanito) if I wanted to play for Málaga and I said yes”. Once at the Blue and White club, he achieved a huge feat. He rose from the Third Division to the First Division, and showed us the jersey of that longed-for promotion to the national elite in the 98/99 season.
This wasn’t his only promotion. We also saw the shirt with which Basti enjoyed promotion with Albacete Balompié in the 02/03 season. He tells us that, with his goal against Real Zaragoza, the outfit from La Mancha sealed their great year.
Another team close to his heart, where Basti wanted to hang up his boots, was Centro de Deportes El Palo, and he showed us the iconic Red and Green jersey.
On a personal level, we can see how important family is to him. For Basti, his children’s successes are his. Marta is Spanish Fit Kid champion, whilst ‘Minibasti’ is part of The Academy and in love with Málaga Club de Fútbol. Basti also remembers his late brother whom he misses every day and who is always present within the family. “The goals scored at La Rosaleda, when I went to the corner to dance, were for him,” said Basti.
Lastly, Basti uncovered the LaLiga Genuine Santander Champions Trophy. In the championship held in Tarragona, Málaga CF Genuine were crowned league champions. An emotional Basti recalled the unique moments experienced with the Genuine team thanks to his work with the MCF Foundation, as well as the gratitude of the parents of one of our Supercapacitad@s for his work. "I remember when a mother told us that, after the trip to Tarragona, her son spoke more with them," he told us with tears in his eyes.
A very close and emotional journey through Basti's life in the second episode of Rosaleda Connection. Soon, the third - and final - protagonist in this Malaguista feature will open the doors of the TESESA wardrobes to find their most precious objects and tell us the stories behind them.
Don't miss this great interview! We invite you to go where few have accessed. Into the life of our legends: Basti is waiting for you.
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