Kochi, Nov. 28 : Renowned freestyle footballers from Spain, Japan and Hungary participated in the first leg of the nation-wide talent hunt in Kochi to tap players who have mastered the art of ball control and other manoeuvres.

The finale of free style football competition will take place in Kolkata on December 18 in which the contestants from different parts of the country will compete for the trophy.

This talent hunt contest named ''Freestyle Friendzy'' has been sponsored by McDowell''s.

The nationwide competition is open to anyone who has the drive and the enthusiasm to display his ball control and other free style skills with the ball.

To the amusement of the spectators, ace freestyle footballers, Jesus Gomez of Spain, Peter Kovas from Hungary and Japanese Nori demonstrated their mastery with the ball.

"Freestyle football involves football tricks. Freestyle football has three parts, first from lower body, meaning tricks done using legs, the upper body and sit downs. That is freestyle football," said, Peter Kovas Hungarian freestyle footballer.

This game is new to India where cricket has marginalized other games.

This event of nationwide scouting talent is expected to make freestyle football as a popular sport.

“Sometimes freestyle football is individual, other times it is a team game. There are only two or three freestyle football teams in the world, Montag or other companies. Basically freestyle football is individual," added Jesus Gomez, a freestyle footballer from Spain.

The winner of the ''Freestyle Friendzy'' will get a chance to train further abroad including a free ticket to one of the popular league matches in London and other attractive prizes.

Also known as street style, freestyle football has reportedly caught up among the young the old alike in North America, Europe and the Far East. (ANI)