Aaril Anglin, who unanimously became Jamaica's most decorated Red Bull Street Style champion, with back-to-back titles last weekend, feels he has grown in confidence to take a shot at the World Freestyle Championship, to be held in London, England, in November.
The exciting and creative football juggling event thrilled spectators at the Ward Theatre, located at North Parade in downtown Kingston, last Saturday night.
Each player got one minute and 30 seconds to impress the judges and the audience with their juggling technique and proficiency, the use of upper and lower body to juggle the ball.
"It was very tense on the battlefield, but I came out on top. You have got to have a lot of determination. You can't just expect to jump in the sport and expect to be on top," said Anglin, who has been training consistently as a freestyle juggler for almost a decade.
With a unanimous decision, the skilful freestyler returned to the winners' enclosure as the 2016 champion. He has copped the main prize, an all-expense paid trip to London to represent Jamaica, from a total of 16 finalists.
Each juggler was free to bring their own style and flavour to the contest.
"You have to put in a lot of work, 'cause I've been practising for the last eight years, so I am expecting a lot when I reach over there (London)," Anglin said about his chances.
The competition featured islandwide qualifiers, a round of 16, then round of eight and semi-finals.
One of the judges for the final was Miguel Coley, assistant coach for the senior men's national football team. He was impressed by the displays of skill in the final between Luke Soares and Anglin.
"It's a different version of football, and it is good that Red Bull has endorsed it and brought it to Jamaica," said Coley.
"He has to just represent Jamaica well, and represent Red Bull," an impressed Coley outlined of the champion.