Austin Maina, Heizel Selesi dominate inaugural Kenya Freestyle Football Champs

Awadh Abdul earned the first runner-up spot in the men’s competition with Benson Ngugi finishing strong third.

The women’s event was another highly-contested affair which saw Heizel Selesi emerge champion ahead of Rael Kamanda and Gloria Mawira respectively.

The landmark event brought scores to the streets outside the National Archives to witness the breadth of footballing talent in the country.

The event was a platform for rising athletes to showcase their skills, but Predator Energy Regional Marketing Director Vienna Mukabanah revealed a unique opportunity that will see top finishers get a chance to become brand ambassadors.

“For the athletes, we’re giving them an opportunity to showcase their craft and they will also get to become Predator ambassadors.”

“There is also a cash prize award for the winners, but other than that, we have a plan for them after they win to become part of the Predator family,” she added.

The event was the first time the World Freestyle Football Association (WFFA) organised the Kenyan National Championships.

Similar contests have also taken place in Egypt and Nigeria, and another is planned in Uganda in December – a testament to the rapid growth of interest across the continent.

The sky’s the limit for the WFFA, as founder Dan Wood expressed the push to make it an Olympic sport in the next decade.

“Freestyle football is all over the world… we’re heading towards the Olympic agenda in the next ten years.”

“What we’re building now is an event series, but also an educational series that's sustainable all year round, so you’ll see this competition coming every year now.”

Freestyle football is a unique sport of self-expression that combines football tricks, dance and music to entertain onlookers and compete with opponents.

Participants perform a one-minute routine to impress the judges and progress into the knockout stages. The competitors then face off 1-on-1 and battle it out to reach the final.