TOP 16 CHOSEN FOR RED BULL STREET STYLE WORLD FINAL
A passionate crowd and the world’s 60 best freestyle footballers...just another day in Africa. Day Two of the Red Bull Street Style World Final had it all as competitors battled it out for a place in the last 16 and a chance to represent their nation on the final day of competition. Football legends George Weah (Liberia) and Edgar Davids (Netherlands) will be on hand to crown the new champion at the final battle on Wednesday (28 April 2010).
CAPE TOWN (RSA). Today also coincided with a public holiday in South Africa aptly named Freedom Day as the ballers performances did the name justice with their creative and inspiring displays.
A packed arena was treated to skills and flair never seen before on the African continent as ballers held nothing back to book their place in the knockout phase on day three. With all to play for there quite a few surprises as new crowd favourites emerged as the day progressed. Freestylers like Christian ‘Rocky’ Mayorga from Colombia and local Champion Kamal ‘Kamalio’ Ranchod had the crowd going wild as they moved up the qualifying table, ousting favourites Rickard ‘Palle’ Sjölander and Brian ‘Brizze’ Mengel from Denmark into second place of their respective groups.
The action was not only at the top of the qualifying tables, as the biggest ovation of the day was for eleven-year old Nigerian Habib Makanjuola, who despite not winning his heat had fans cheering after his unique performance which looks like ensuring a bright and entertaining future for him as an entertainer and credible freestyler.
An enthusiastic crowd got a glimpse of reigning Red Bull Street Style World Champion Sean Garnier as he booked his berth in the last 16 from the last qualifying group joining the top fifteen elite ballers. He showed glimpses of his winning Sao Paolo performance in 2008 but it was clear that he was saving his best for the Final.
60 freestyle footballers started out the day with dreams of reaching the last 16 and possibly going on to be crowned Red Bull Street Style Champion for 2010 but the best 16 have taken their places after day two and will have the opportunity to progress on day three. Watch this space as the battle for the number one spot concludes with tomorrow’s World Final.
-----------
Final 16 / Red Bull Street Style World Final
-----------
FarukOnmaz- Austria
Arthur- Brazil
Rocky- Colombia
Palle - Sweden
Brizze - Denmark
Jose Avalos – El Salvador
Séan- France (Reigning Champion)
FX - Hungary
Daniel Rooseboom - Netherlands
Kamalio - South Africa
Azun - Norway
Nam the Man - Ireland
Andrew Henderson - United Kingdom
Nadir - Switzerland
Luki - Poland
Jovanny Gonzalez – Mexico
