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Three of Europe’s top footballing freestylers are showcasing their dazzling ball control skills and cool juggling tricks at The Lost Paradise of Dilmun waterpark to help visitors celebrate the FIFA World Cup.
Ukrainian friends Vlad Fanatov, Serhii ‘Sava’ Savenok and Roman Shershen who have been thrilling people around the globe with their signature styles are keeping the kingdom’s football fans entertained at the attraction as part of its 10-day Eid festivities that kicked off on Saturday.
A series of musical concerts featuring Arabic singers and fun games and activities will accompany the soccer spectacular show too.
Vlad, 25, who is a programme engineer by day in Kiev and a freestyler by night, is delighted to be in Bahrain to showcase his juggling skills which he has been perfecting for more than a decade. “We are extremely happy to be here to show what we can do and we hope the crowds will love it,” he said. “We perform classic tricks such as Around the World, Crossover and more besides and we have also created our own signature styles.
“There is so much competition around the world so we decided to devise our own tricks. Readers will have to come out and see them and where better place than at the Lost Paradise of Dilmun waterpark which is such a beautiful setting to display skills of the beautiful game.”
Vlad used to play football to a high standard until he suffered a serious leg injury and decided to develop his freestyle skills. He added: “Football freestyle is not an easy feat to master as it’s quite technical with patience as important as fancy footwork. I practice regularly for at least two hours at a time. I do this for the love of the game.”
Meanwhile, Roman Shershen, 24, and Sava, 21, are founders of the ART Freestyle School in the capital of Ukraine and they are probably happier playing while the World Cup action in Russia is being screened because Ukraine failed to make it into the finals from their group, giving way to Iceland who qualified from top spot and Croatia who slipped through after a play-off with Greece.
Roman said: “We play street football and freestyle because it’s fun and cool. People love trying it, learning tricks done by big time footballers like Cristiano Ronaldo. We have around 50 students from as young as eight to as old as 42 learning how to master the techniques. We feel alive when we juggle and the people in Bahrain appear to love it too.”
The freestyle fun takes place every day until June 25 at 1pm, 3.30pm, 5.30pm and 6.45pm.
To find out more on the events, schedules and timings contact the waterpark at 17845100 or follow them on Facebook and Instagram @lpodwaterpark
