McDowell’s Unveils the First Ever Nationwide Hunt for India’s Best Freestyle Footballer

Nov. 27, 2009 - PRLog -- 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

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.


What is 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.

The celebrity freestylers will dribble, juggle and display tricks which will leave you spellbound. So look out for the McDowell’s Freestyle Friendzy arriving in your city soon.

For more information on McDowell’s Freestyle Friendzy, please visit

www.freestylefriendzy.in










About McDowell’s Celebration rum:

McDowell's No.1 Celebration Rum is the fastest growing top rum brand in the world.  Celebration was launched in 1991 with a modest beginning of a hundred thousand cases. Today McDowell’s Celebration sells in excess of 10 million cases with a reach across 12 countries that, makes Celebration the 2nd largest selling dark rum in the world. Part of the McDowell’s franchise with the highest FMCG retail value of Rs 8300 crores*, Celebration Rum is the largest selling rum in India, with a market share of 52% and growing. The proud recipient of several prestigious awards,  Celebration  Rum  owes  it  success  largely  to  the high quality standards  that  McDowell's No.1 Celebration Rum provides its consumers and this has been recognized at the highest International level.

*PASH Beverage Report, Impact International, Nov 2008

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About United Spirits Limited (USL):

United Spirits Limited (USL) is the INR 5700 crore spirits arm of the UB Group. USL was earlier McDowell and Company Limited and before that McDowell Spirits Limited. USL is headquartered in Bangalore with a global footprint and has 7500 employees across various locations. USL has a portfolio of more than 140 brands, of which 19 are millionaire brands and
has manufacturing and bottling units in 74 locations across the country.

USL represents the merged entities of erstwhile McDowell & Co. Limited, Phipson Distillery Limited, United Spirits Limited, Herbertsons Limited, Triumph Distillers and Vintners Private Limited, Baramati Grape Industries Limited, United Distillers India Limited, McDowell International Brands Limited and Shaw Wallace Distilleries Limited. The erstwhile McDowell & Co. Limited was first established as a proprietary business in 1826.

For detailed information, please visit www.unitedspirits.in