STAR STRIKER LUKAS PODOLSKI SENDS COLOGNE LOCAL HERO TO WORLD FINALS

Cologne, 5 December 2009 – From Cologne to Cape Town: 22 year-old Timo Löhnenbach secured his ticket to the freestyle football world finals in South Africa by winning the German National Qualifying Final of Red Bull Street Style on Friday night. The local hero from Cologne not only impressed star judge Lukas Podolski but also thrilled the 600-strong crowd packed into the city’s top location “Das Bootshaus” with his amazing skills. The National Final saw the best 16 freestyle footballers from across the land battle it out head-to-head for the title.

“Even as a footballer myself I find these guys’ skills just insane,” commented an impressed Lukas Podolski, top striker with 1. FC Köln in the German Bundesliga. “Any player who can control the ball like that is definitely in with a chance of taking the title at the freestyle football world championships. I will definitely be keeping my fingers crossed for him.”

The freestylers took each other on in one-on-one battles, with (ball and body) control, creativity and style the three judging criteria. As the competition progressed to the Last 16, the men were separated from the boys, and eventual winner Timo Löhnenbach produced the performance of the evening in his Quarter Final to beat reigning national champion Dominik Kaiser. “Qualifying for the Red Bull Street Style World Finals in Cape Town is a dream come true. Now I’m the prince; in South Africa I want to crown myself king,” explained the local boy from Cologne as he was swamped by fans. The Final saw Löhnenbach beat 20 year-old Rene Mathussek from the town of Schwäbisch Gmünd in southern Germany, who was visibly disappointed after coming so close.

Athletes from around 60 countries will represent their nations at the Red Bull Street Style World Finals on 28 April 2010 in Cape Town (South Africa) and fight it out for the title of world champion.