Joel Asare named judge for Nigeria Freestyle Football Championship

Three-time Ghanian Freestyle Football champion ‘Joel Asare’ has been confirmed as the lead judge for the Nigerian Freestyle Football auditions. Joel Asare is also a committee member of the World Freestyle Football Association and has been named among the top 16 freestyle footballers in Africa

Just this past weekend, Joel led the duo of Kemen and Abass Suara as judges of the 2019 Lagos audition of the Nigerian Freestyle Football Championship organised by Feet ‘n’ Tricks under the authority of World Freestyle Football Association at Rowe Park on Saturday in Lagos.

The audition was hosted by Street dance hotshot ‘Poco Lee’ with support from Xtacyand judged by three time Ghanaian Freestyle Football Champion ‘Joel Asare, Kemen (of Big Brother Fame) and Abass Suara.

The rather intense auditions were punctuated by fun dance challenges spearheaded by Pocolee as well as performances by crowd favourites Raybekah and Brainee.

John Benjamin emerged winner of the Lagos Regional Championship following a keenly-contested final with Larry Etuduvwun while Taiwo Oni finished third.

Damilola Adeshina emerged the as the first female winner while Augustina Unamba and Mariam Olaobi came second and third position respectively.

The finals will hold on September 14th and 15th this year and is expected to play host to a large number of African freestyle footballers where Ghanian Freestylers will also participate.

The event also witnessed a colourful addition of Panna championship with 16 athletes locked in battles that saw Oscar Ifeanyi emerging as Regional Champion.

For the endeavour, the top three in both the male and female categories when home with the sum of N100,000, N75,000 and N50,000 for first, second and third place position.

Feet ‘n’ Tricks Chairman, Valentine Ozigbo, expressed delight at the growing enthusiasm of youths to freestyle football stating it was getting bigger in terms of participation and awareness across the country. He also revealed that the Championships would be covered live across the Continent and beyond on multiple terrestrial and digital channels.
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The Lagos auditions mark the start of the four regional championships in Nigeria with Delta State, billed as the next port of call for the ball juggling extravaganza on Sunday June 30 at the Brownhill Event Centre, Warri.

Owerri, the capital of Imo State, will then hold the penultimate regional championship on July 6 at Cubans Lounge before the series will climax in Nigeria’s capital, Abuja on July 13 at Central Park.

The grand finale is scheduled for Lagos on September 14 and 15 with over 100 participants representing about 30 countries expected to participate.

All the regional auditions will be hosted by Poco Lee while Joel Asare is confirmed as the lead judge for the remaining three editions scheduled to hold in the country.