Crowned the UK Nike Freestyle Champion, Abbas Farid is a globe-trotting Guinness World Record holder and world-renowned freestyle juggler.

But that wasn’t always the case. In his interview with TopDrawerSoccer.com, Farid talks about the challenge of being noticed while hailing from the small town of Newport Whales, along with his memorable experiences in traveling with fellow freestyler John Farnworth .

So what new world record have you recently set?  
“I set the world record for most heel juggles in one minute - which was 88, but someone broke it two, three months ago (with) 114. So I wanted to reclaim it because it’s my strength. I did it again and got 135. So I’m really pleased with that. Because of the pace I did it at, if anyone tops that I’ll be impressed.”

What are some of the memorable experiences freestyle has afforded you?
“Mainly the tours and traveling worldwide (Far East, Europe, U.S.) – I’ve done shows with Ronaldinho, which was great; experiencing different cultures and seeing how they’re different but they all work. It’s been a fantastic life experience so far but I’m looking to push and extend it further because I know freestyle has so much potential to go a lot further. It’s still young and new.”

How long have you been playing soccer and when did you start freestyling?
“I started when I was 13, at a late age. I wanted to learn tricks so that I could get scouted. I lived in a small town called Newport and there were no scouts or professionals watching the game. I was always at the wrong place at the wrong time. I kept improving and practicing skills. I went to a freestyle competition for a laugh and went far and it built my confidence. I realized that my passion grew more from inside the tricks and the creativity side. It’s an art form and self expression. No rules have to restrict myself to as long as it’s skillful and stylish. I still love futbol. The great thing is you get rewarded from the amount of practice you put in and that’s a reward that sticks with you for the rest of your life.”

Being from a smaller area and making it as big as you have, does it make you feel that anything is possible?
“If you’re really dedicated and committed you will find a way. It’s depending on if you’re committed enough. If you’re not then you’re not doing your part. If you’re struggling for facilities you will find a way. All you need is a futbol really -  that’s all you need. Ultimately you need to be yourself with it and improve your control and hopefully someone will scout you. If not, you have to be knocking on their doors and let them know I’m here and have skill.”

 

Video - Abbas Farid performs with John Farnworth

Video - Abbas Farid juggling solo

Video - Abbas Farid does a blind roll