EXCLUSIVE | Ronaldo, Ronaldinho pushed me into freestyle footballing: Nikk

How did you come across freestyle football and what motivated you to take it up as a profession?

Nikk- As a football player, I used to do some football basic tricks like head control, juggles, etc. Then I started checking about this more on YouTube and there I found our legends doing tricks (Ronaldo, Ronaldinho) that really fascinated me to explore more onto this and they really motivated me to start this journey of freestyle football.

Football is growing in India, what future do you see for freestyle football and how can it get the spotlight in the mainstream media?

Nikk- Yes, football is gradually growing in India but freestyle football has alot to develop in our country. If we don't get any support from the people and the sports authorities then it's difficult to see something good in the field of freestyle football. But working hard as much as we can to do develop this sport in India. People should understand that it's good for their health (physically and mentally).

Tips for youngsters who want to take up freestyle football as a career?

Nikk- It is not an art form that you can learn in haste. It takes time to grow and hone your art. Patience, hard work and dedication are the keys.

What is the required infrastructure and minimum diet routine for freestyle football?

Nikk- The infrastructure required for practicing and honing our skills is a basic requirement of a good surface with preferably a shade or a ventilation system. To organise a freestyle football competition at a higher level, we require a proper stage setup with light and audio support combined with a space for crowd to gather and enjoy the entertainment. Whereas, Nutrition is an important part for any sport performance for athletes. Minimum diet should be five meals a day which consists of micronutrients, macronutrients and fluids because these are essentials to push and provide energy for the growth.

Future

Besides all these, Nikk and his partner Ankit Yadav is looking to set up a company Freestyle Works which will help the budding freestylers and athletes to do well in this field. Freestyle football, without a doubt, recapitulates the magic of ‘joga bonito’, a Portuguese phrase that means to play football beautifully. Well, freestyle football is not only about juggling with the ball and showing off your skills, there is much more to it. With the much needed exposure and support, India would soon witness freestylers holding the national flag high with pride at international platforms.