On the Menu again was Freestyle Football at the National Grand Finale of the biggest 5-Aside event in Nigeria The Neymar Jrs Five that went down in Lagos over the last weekend 20th May, 2017 at the Get Arena, Victoria Island. All in the effort to ensure Freestyle Football becomes a mainstay in our sporting […]
via Freestyle Football takes Centre Stage At Finals Of Neymar Jr Fives In Lagos — newfanzoneblog
Freestyle football in Nigeria took another stride to greatness this past weekend when the fans were astonished with amazing tricks and flicks with the round leather object football.
The maiden edition of Street BallBenders has come and gone, and it was the lad from Abuja Obanor McCarthy that defeated the Lagos based Mayowa Bababunmi in what would go down as an epic final between both lads. It was freestyle football at it craziest best. The boys really proved they are matching up gradually with their foreign counterparts with some mind blowing combos and balance.
The ladies were not left out of these even though they still have a lot to learn to get better, Chidinma took no mercy on Rasheedat as she came out top in the ladies categories and she did quite well by trying as much as possible to replicate most of the tricks done by the guys.
Okon James from Warri, the veteran amongst them who have performed at many Super Eagles match was outshone by the younger freestylers like Larry and Benjamin. Majesty from Warri who seems to be the most crafty amongst them with his tricked performed using a guitar as an external object.
Overall, it was an event that would have a lasting memory in the fans having seen absolute bizarre scenes and creativity without blemish. Suara Abass CEO PodiumView, the other organizer of the competition didn’t hide his feelings and also made his thoughts known on the way forward: “amazing stuff we saw here today, entertainment and sport without any dilution, I do believe most of these guys have upped their games but a lot still need to be worked upon in terms of their sharpness and ability to combine many tricks in split seconds, i have pointed it out to them all these and they are willing to go improve.
“The next edition would see our boys pitch their skills against some very good freestylers from around the world, we could have brought the foreign freestylers in for this first edition because most of them showed great interest but logistics didn’t allow that to happen but hopefully this first edition would serve as eye opener to corporate bodies to realize that freestyle football market is very much untapped and would certainly give them a lot of International exposure.
“our bigger aim is to take this to the level of the ‘SuperBall’ held in the Czech Republic with over 300 freestylers from all over the world attending annually, nothing beats this in terms of exposure.
He then concluded that Street BallBenders would over the course of the year run a lot of sensitization programme in schools in Nigeria so as to start cultivating the culture of Freestyle Football amongst the younger ones so one day they can be like Obanor McCarthy, Mayowa Bababunmi and can as well live a better life like Sean Arnaud Garnier, Andrew Henderson, Mycrich, Laura Biondo (female). But to achieve this youth engagement initiative corporate bodies must as well get involved.
The second edition comes up next year with a far better package. More details can be gotten on http://www.streetballbenders.com
Finally Street Ballbenders is going to take centre stage in Lagos. Freestyle Football would find his way back into the Nigeria Sport circuit as arrangements has been concluded for the event to actually rock Lagos as earlier promised.
Football Freestylers from the nooks and crannies of the federation of Nigeria would converge at the Sport Centre, University of Lagos, Yaba to show there dexterity and outwit each other for the top prize of becoming the best football Freestyler in the land.
From Abuja to Warri, From Port Harcourt to Kaduna, Freestylers are already landing in Lagos to grace the event which promises to be a mind blowing and jaw cracking event which will also experience lots of music, dance and comedy to make it an absolute weekend starter.
CEO PodiumView, Suara Abass the event’s organiser has bemoaned the low level of attention given by corporate bodies to events like this and most especially these extremely talented guys who do things that are unimaginable with just a football without actually running around.
He further reiterated that these are the kind of talents that should be seen on the bigger screen for adverts, Tv commercials, concerts and so many corporate events as their kind of entertainment is absolutely next to none.
Abass also said that Freestyle footballers should be engaged to provide entertainment at match venues during league and national team games as their skills will keep football fans optimally entertained.
This year’s event, Street Ballbenders 2015 Freestyle Football competition would be going down at the Indoor Sports Hall of the University of Lagos on Friday the 9th October, 2015 with proceedings set to start with the Warm-up activities which double as the Qualifiers by 11am and the battle Royale start at exactly 1pm.
Fans will also be treated to live music performances mixed with comedy and dance in what promises to be a fun filled day.
Further information can be gotten on the official website http://www.streetballbenders.com and official Twitter handle @StreetBBenders
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