It is a competition with a difference. A competition to find India's best freestyle footballer. McDowell's Celebration which has been known for its patronage of Indian football has upped-the-ante this time by bringing to India, one of the most exciting and popular forms of extreme football in the world today. Under the McDowell's Freestyle Friendzy platform, a nationwide hunt was launched today to find one Indian who can challenge the best in the world when it comes to freestyle football

Also known as street style, Freestyle Football is extremely popular in North America, Europe and parts of Asia. A very popular sport amongst the youth, it is perceived to be cool, hip and fun.

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All you will have to do to enter the completion will be to upload your video on www.freestylefriendzy.in and circulate the links widely on the internet as the internet users will be judging the streestylers with the number of votes. So the sooner you enter and upload your videos, the more chances you have of gaining more votes. 

Speaking at the event, Ashok Capoor, Deputy President, United Spirits Limited, said, "McDowell's Celebration is the proud pioneer of dynamic football formats in India. Freestyle football is catching up as a rage amongst football aficionados across the world. Now with the launch of a nationwide hunt for India's best freestyle footballer, McDowell's has taken football fever to another level. McDowell's Freestyle Friendzy is a natural outcome of this pursuit. Never before has the country witnessed such a massive display of international football talent apart from the exciting hunt for Indian amateur freestylers. "

To herald the event, McDowell's literally rolled the leather out of Bangalore, by inviting six of the world's best Freestylers to kick off the competition and mesmerize audience with their dazzling "dribblery". The names of Peter Kovacs - from Puskas' Hungary , Nam The Man - from Robby Keane's Ireland, Palle -the freestyle champion from Ljungberg's Sweden, Daniel Rooseboom - the Dutch numero uno from Van Nistelroy's home town, Nori-top freestyler from Nakamura's Japan and Jesus Gomez Moreno-from Rauls' Spain, are among the best in freestyle football that the world has produced and this time they kicked off their India tour with a touchdown at UB city in Bangalore. What followed in terms of sheer skill was mind-blowing and a true visual treat. From "Crossovers", to "Around the World" to "Hop the World", the freestylers unleashed a volley of tricks which left everyone wanting for more.

After having successfully partnered the "Green Maroon" brigade of Mohun Bagan for a decade, McDowell's has been successful in bringing this new soccer format to the Indian shores, be it through five-a side Futsal or Freestyle soccer.

McDowell's Freestyle Friendzy-hunt for India's best freestyle footballer

The nationwide competition is open to anyone who has the drive and the enthusiasm to display his freestyle football skills and get fame and recognition. The winner will also get a chance to interact with the celebrity freestylers and learn more tricks from them.

"We are encouraging amateur Indian freestylers to post their videos on www.freestylefriendzy.in to seek votes for their skills and also help popularize the sport further," added Capoor .

The international freestylers will engage and interact with the local freestylers across 21 cities in India, with the finale to be held in the mecca of Indian football, Kolkata on December 18, 2009. The final winner will receive a free ticket to one of the most sought after league matches in London and other attractive prizes.

McDowell's Celebration will soon launch India's first Freestyle Training Video with the visiting freestyle champions. The video will be available at major sports and music outlets.