The tournament was surrounded by performances that tapped into the current football street culture from local freestylers, hip-hop artists and dancers. The night cumulated in Mario Balotelli presenting the trophies to the winners and introducing two new signings to the PUMA street roster, Freestyler – Lisa Freestyle and groundbreaking hip-hop artist and football mad – MHD.
HAVING EXPERIENCE IN NUTMEGGING PEOPLE IN THE STREETS FOR YEARS, PUMA FEELS LIKE…
… your mum has been killing you too many times because you keep ruining your new white shoes.
… you’ve been going to pick your ball from under the car too many times.
… when you’re asked which is your strongest foot you answer, “my sole “.
… you need shoes that help prevent you getting nutmegged by Lisa Freestyle, but let you dance to MHD tracks looking proper.
… you need a boot which allows you to take your team to the top then slide through the security check-in at the airport like Mario Balotelli.
… you’ve skipped school a few days because you were to ashamed after being nutmegged and your doctor didn’t want to give you a medical certificate for a broken ego.
… after you’ve already played 20 vs 20, 1 vs 1, 1 vs 5 and 5 vs 20. Numbers don’t count. Skill does.
… you aren’t an architect, but you can build a football goal with two t-shirts.
… you need to be as good at banter as you are at playing.
… you don’t see a square, you see a football pitch. You don’t see a car, you see a wall for your free-kicks. You don’t see trees, you see defenders.