Freestyle Soccer
The Emirati Freestyle Footballer You Need to Know about
Fahed Albreiki will represent the UAE at the Red Bull Street Style World Final in Poland later on this month.
Practicing freestyle football since he was 16, Fahed Albreiki gave up a professional career with national club team Al Ain FC to focus on his discipline full-time.
And the hard work has paid off.
Fahed Albreiki in Actoin
© Red Bull Content Pool
Now 23, Albreiki is the top freestyler in the UAE, and has already competed in over 40 competitions across more than 30 countries, transforming him into one of the top sixteen freestylers in the world.
Now, the athlete is gearing up to jet to Warsaw, Poland, where he’ll be competing in the world’s greatest freestyle football tournament, the Red Bull Street Style World Final. Taking place on 22 November 2018, this 10th anniversary edition will see the best freestylers in the world face off, in front of an audience of former champions, including Séan Garnier, Azun, Andrew, Szymo, Kitti Szász and Tokura. What’s more, is that a celebrity footballer - who’s yet to be announced - will be judging the event!
We sat down with Albreiki to find out more about him and what he’s looking forward to at the tournament.
How would you describe yourself to those who don’t know you?
I started freestyling in 2011 when I was 16; I was really inspired by the rebel street style 2010 in South Africa. At that time I was already playing football professionally in Al Ain club but then I wanted to start my career in freestyle and become the first UAE freestyler. And ever since I’ve been freestyling, for more than seven years now, I have travelled to more than 30 countries, competed in more than 40 major events, and now I am the UAE champion and one of the top sixteen freestylers in the world.
You recently won the UAE Freestyle Football Championship, which earned you a spot in the upcoming Red Bull Street Style World Final. How are you feeling?
I was really happy to see organisers putting effort and resources into putting an event for us here. I found out about this event through the organisers who reached out to us and the community. I immediately decided to join because I wanted to show everyone that I am the best in the UAE, and I wanted to qualify and represent my country in the world final.
It feels great to be the winner and to win the title in the UAE. It showed me that hard work pays off. I have been practicing and putting so much effort and progress into my freestyle for more than seven years, and now i feel really satisfied. But at the same time, this is the least I could do to give back to my country and my community. So I am always looking forward to reaching more.
Looking forward to Warsaw?
I felt really happy to qualify for the World Final in Poland again, after qualifying in Rebel Street Style in 2016 in London. And I feel like it’s a great way for me to come back and reach a higher level in a big international event like this.I reached the top 16 last time in london.
It feels amazing to be taking part in such an international event with Red Bull again. I am very motivated to represent the UAE, represent freestyle football, and represent my style in its best picture. I am looking forward to reaching a very high rank. And to show a very different and very entertaining freestyle to the world.
How do you describe your style of freestyle?
As you may know freestyle football is a very diverse game; it shows a lot of variety and differences in how people practice it. But in my case, I really try to connect my freestyle with my own character and individuality. And it’s always a goal for me to show something that people have never seen before, and push the limits of how the world can view freestyle. So, I am looking forward to reaching this goal in the next event in Poland, and also push that in a way to make me reach as far as possible in the competition.
Thanks Fahed - best of luck in the finals!
I just want to say that I am looking forward to representing my country, giving the best, achieving the best result I can, and showing a new and entertaining freestyle to the world. And most importantly, I just want to have fun and continue to the journey.