Meet Austine Maina, Kenya’s top freestyle footballer

Austine Maina is a top football freestyler in Kenya. The 20-year-old high school student started freestyle football in 2020 after picking up a nasty leg injury in 2019 in a local competition while trying to become a top footballer like his idols Neymar and Ronaldinho.

In freestyle football, someone performs football skills such as continuously keeping a ball up in the air or balancing a ball on their head for a long time. There are two participants on the stage at any given time. Judges allocate points for every move that the freestyler does.

From the last Freestyle Football World Rankings released on January 31, 2025, Austine occupied position 103 globally, sixth in Africa, and first in Kenya.

How did your journey in freestyle football start?

I started freestyle football during the coronavirus outbreak in 2020 after I came across a video on freestyle football on YouTube. With all the free time that was there, I wanted to keep myself busy. World Freestyle Football champion Erlend Fagerli from Norway inspired me further. I saw some of his tricks which captivated me. I practiced every day. It was not easy doing it around the world. It took me weeks and years of training to reach this level.

Did you do other sports before freestyle football?

Yes, I played normal football as a number 10. I was an awesome striker. My dream was to play for French giants Paris Saint-Germain which had my favourite player Neymar. I played and practiced to be like him. However, I quit football when I got hit in the shin during a competition. The injury was so bad that the doctor told me that if I continued playing football I would end up having no leg.

What challenges have you encountered in freestyle football?

Freestyle shoes are not easily available in Kenya, so I have to order from Europe. I have two pairs of freestyle shoes; Explore U White and Footwork. They go for 59 Euros (Sh7,899) each and they don’t last for more than five months. Another challenge is facing discouragement from people. They keep asking me “Why are you doing freestyle? Go play football. Freestyle football will not help you here”. I encounter so much negativity.

How have you benefited from freestyle football?

I got the chance to travel the world. I've been to different parts of the continent and Germany, Norway, and the Czech Republic for competitions.

Does this mean you live on freestyle football?

Not really. I'm also a student at Rungiri High School in Kikuyu, Kiambu County. But, yes, freestyle football has paid my school fees. I'm now in my last year in high school.

What lessons have you learned from this sport?

Discipline, consistency, humility, and patience… Freestyle football needs a lot of patience to learn it.

How do your parents view freestyle football?

My parents encourage me to follow my dream. They usually support me with everything that I don't have in freestyle, including buying football shoes and clothes. This gives me a lot of belief to continue with freestyle.

What are your achievements in freestyle football?

I consider sharing freestyle football skills with the children and with a lot of people as an achievement because it brings happiness to people and myself. Freestyle is all about happiness. As a freestyler, this sport has truly brightened my life and I want to share its beauty with as many people as possible. 

How does your day look like in freestyle football?

When I don't have anything to do, I grab a ball, do tricks, and learn some new moves. I wake up at 5.30am. In my first two hours, I just read books, and then there is one hour for meditating and another hour for studying. When I have a little bit of time, I train for four hours a day.

What's your big dream in freestyle football?

To open an academy for freestyle football here in Kenya. I want to encourage the children out there who don't have anything to do to come and enjoy the sport. Freestyle football is an art to express oneself. In the future, I want also to pursue a career in videography and digital marketing.

Who is your role model in freestyle football?

Erlend Fagerli from Norway. He has inspired me so much. He came at the Bomas of Kenya in Nairobi in 2023 for the first-ever World Freestyle Football Championship in Africa. He encouraged me to continue with the sport. He told me not to listen to negative people and that I should pursue freestyle football because it can take me places.

What is the diet of a freestyle footballer?

Just don't eat sugary foods. Eat vitamins, proteins, and also carbohydrates. But vitamins are what you need to eat a lot. Avoid drinking sodas. 

Tell us how you manage to balance freestyle football and academics.

I have eight hours of studying and four hours of exercising every day which I follow strictly.

How do you rate the freestyle football facilities in Kenya?

We don't have any freestyle football facilities. We train in the streets or in the parks. But if the government would come and recognise this sport and give us some facilities, it would be great for us.

Can a Kenyan live on freestyle football?

Probably. Freestyle football has given me everything that I have. Without it, I don't know how my life would be.

How cheap or expensive is the sport?

It is not cheap. It's a very expensive sport because you have to train every day. To get a gig, you have to be in good shape.

Break it down how do you get paid as a freestyle footballer?

It can be between Sh10,000 and Sh15,000 an hour. You can get a gig that lasts for hours. I usually charge Sh10,000 an hour, but the whole day is around Sh30,000. The largest amount I have ever got from freestyle football was almost half a million Kenyan shillings from competition and shows. I paid school fees and bought everything that I didn't have.

How do you plan to give back to the society?

Start an academy where I would have street children join the sport and teach them to stay away from drugs and other vices. 

What advice would you give to someone who wants to pursue sports?

If you have any talents out there, use it. Don't listen to naysayers. Make good use of your time. Use that talent that you have to change the world. You can change anyone's life so use your talents wisely.

What does your school think about your journey in freestyle football?

The school is very supportive. They give me a chance to train in their facilities. The teachers also offer a lot of encouragement.

It looks as if you are the only one in your school doing freestyle football?

Yes, I'm the only one. When I teach people in school, they usually say that this is the hardest sport they can pursue. So it's not for everyone. It's just a passion. It looks easy on YouTube or when I’m doing it. It's a hard sport, but if you have the passion and are patient, it's doable. I learned freestyle football by watching YouTube.