Glenroy Sinclair, Assignment Coordinator

Aquel Fonseka ... expecting to do much better. - Contributed

While Jamaica's national football team busily prepares for the remaining World Cup qualifiers, another group of footballers will face off this afternoon to determine who will represent the country at the Red Bull Street Style World Finals.

The showdown begins at 6p.m. and will be held at the Courtleigh Hotel Auditorium, St Andrew. Apart from walking away with $15,000 in cash prize, the winner will travel to Sao Paulo, Brazil, in November to represent Jamaica on the world stage.

The list of competitors include former St Catherine High Manning Cup player, Kemar 'Chippy' Bennett, who represents defending Premier League champions Portmore United in the Under-21 football championship.

"I can do several tricks with the ball. Because of this I am confident that I will do well," said Bennett, who lives in McCook's Pen in St Catherine.

He will be going up against the defending champion, Aquel Fonseka, who represented Jamaica at the World Finals in Argentina last year.

Second round

Fonseka, who spoke to The Gleaner yesterday, said he made it to the second round and was eliminated by an Argentinian.

"I have since learnt some new tricks and I'm expecting to do much better," Fonseka noted.

The list of competitors also include Nemo Brown, Wayne Byfield, Kallam Scotland, Odane Green of Bray Street and McIntyre Villa in east Kingston. Alrick Carey, David DaCosta of Harbour View, Richard Reid of Hampstead Road Kingston, St James' Oneil Trought, Santana Lawson and Jefroy Leslie of Westmoreland.

From Sweden to Chile, Japan to the USA, 49 nations representing all corners of the world are set to send their best freestyle footballers - chosen by national qualifiers - into battle to juggle for the prestigious title.

Red Bull Street Style rules are easy as 3-2-1: three minutes, two players and one ball form the battleground, in which ball control, skill and style are king.

The freestylers face off on a special stage, seven metres in diameter and need to alternate ball possession every 20 seconds, while displaying their most wicked ball tricks to the rhythm of music, to impress the judges, beat their rival and move on to the next round.