Madden to defend freestyle title at Skillsfest in Ballymun

(Pictured above is Irish freestyle champion Sam Madden who will defend his title at the Irish Freestyle football Championships in Ballymun next month.)

YOUNGSTERS aged seven and upwards are invited to give it their best shot at penalty kicking and the cross bar or endline challenges at the inaugural Skillsfest:Soccer Challenges hosted by Ballymun United.

Those who attend can also watch the tricks on display at the Irish Freestyle Football Championships, where Sam Madden will defend his title.

It all takes place at Ballymun United AFC at their north Dublin HQ (behind IKEA) on Bank Holiday Monday, May 2 from 10am to 3pm.

Speaking ahead of the event was Sam Madden who is looking forward to an unforgettable day of football fun.

“We’re hoping for a good entry,” he told Northside People.

“When we held the championships in Lisburn last year, players came from all over Ireland; Galway, Dublin, Wexford as well as Northern Ireland, and among our three judges we had the current world champion Erlend Fageri from Norway, who’s a legend of the sport,” said Madden.

Madden, now a professional football freestyler based in Lisburn, began practising his moves about seven years ago.

“I think every footballer gets involved with tricks – and then you realise it’s a thing you can train for.

“You can develop tricks sitting down, using the upper body, the head, anything so long as the ball stays moving.

“You want to come up with the coolest moves and tricks – and you can practise on your own anywhere.

“You don’t need a team.”

In a championship, competitors face off in a head-to-head battle of two 30-second segments.

The judges then decide whose routine who goes forward to the next round, until only the overall champion is left.

The winner in Ballymun will have a chance of representing Ireland at next October’s World Championships in Croatia sponsored by Red Bull.

As well as freestyle football, there’s something for all football lovers at the Dublin Soccer Skillsfest.

Included in the day’s activities are penalty, crossbar and endline challenges for boys and girls of all ages from seven to 16; the Irish Teqball Championships and demonstrations of footgolf and amputee football.

Supporters of Dublin Soccer Skillsfest include Dublin City Sport and Wellbeing Partnership, the FAI, Teqball NI and Decathlon Baile Munna.

To register please go to www.ballymununitedfc.com