Freestyle is expression. Whether it is football, basketball, or dance, freestylers are artists. They compose their own kinds of symphony, and mkae the crowds groove to their beats.
Freestyle Football attracts large crowds.
Freestyle football has gained a lot of popularity in the last few years, only due to some amazing media campaigning, and the enthusiasm of it’s performers, who are willing to take to the streets and showcase their skills in public. In India, it took a little more time to get recognized as a competitive sport, but now has gained a lot of popularity among footballers and onlookers alike.
Youngsters have forever been enthralled by Edgar Davids, Ronaldinho, Ronaldo and the total control they exhibit over the ball. Couple that with Nike’s media campaign of ‘Joga Bonito’, with Eric Cantona as it’s face, has pushed performers’ imaginations into expressing themselves with a football.
In a time when cricket is the main entertainment for Indian crowds, it is safe to say that freestyling is slowly inching it’s way up the popularity ladder in today’s youth. Youngsters in Mumbai and Delhi, among other cities, have started their developing their foot skills, and perform them with quite a lot of finesse and precision.
Freestyling involves a tremendous amount of stamina, focus and balance.
Freestyling needs a lot of practise and an equal amount of patience. It requires a lot of stamina like other sports but once you have mastered the basic art of juggling the ball, you only get better with every practise. Archis Patil, a final year engineering student developed interest in freestyling after watching YouTube videos featuring the likes of ace freestylers Ronaldinho and Touzanie. That Patil is an avid football player only served as an add on. Having played at international tournaments in Sweden and Denmark, freestyling only helped him manoeuvre his way better on the field.
“Freestyling helps me gain better control over the ball, makes me more confident of my moves and makes my body more flexible while playing football,” he says.
He has showcased his skills in promotional features of Red Bull and Virgin mobile and has also got an offer to participate in a reality talent show. “I actually earned Rs10,000 for the two day Virgin mobile promotion,” he says.
Freestyling is complemented by hip-hop music in general, as performers choreograph their moves and skills to provide an amazing spectacle to onlookers.
Though the future of Freestyle Football as a career doesn’t seem too bright at the moment, it is catching the youth’s attention nonetheless as it not only helps them exercise their creativity but also gives them the adrenaline rush.
“Sometimes people clap, just do a thumbs up gesture or congratulate. Undoubtedly, the presence of a crowd builds up the pressure but their applause gives a different high altogether,” says Fernandes who feels happy to entertain the crowd that gathers in the lane across his home where he practices with his friends.
Last year McDowells held a Freestyle Awareness drive around the country in 21 cities in India. The ‘Freestyle Friendzy’ campaign saw six top freestylers from around the world performing for Indian crowds. Peter Kovacs – top Hungarian freestyler ,Nam The Man- the Irish freestyle icon, Palle – the freestyle champion from Sweden and one of the most influential patrons of this format, Daniel Rooseboom – the Dutch No 1, Nori- top freestyler from Japan and Jesus Gomez Moreno – the Spanish champion and Freestyle Fashion ambassador interacted with Indian freestylers.
Most of the performers agree that more competitions should be held in colleges and schools to increase participation and encourage more and more people to take up freestyling as a serious sport.
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