The world’s biggest five-a-side tournament makes its much-anticipated return to Kenya this month.
Kenyan teams will be joining players from over 30 countries in lacing up their boots and setting their sights on glory at Red Bull Neymar Jr’s Five. Contestants will battle it out at the local qualifiers in Mombasa this weekend and in Nairobi on the 24th of October before the National Final which will earn one team a ticket to the World Final to take on the best opponents from across the globe.
The five-a-side football tournament - 10 minutes of intense action, no goalkeepers, and teams losing a player every time the opposition scores - has attracted over 400,000 players from more than 75 countries and six continents since its inception in 2016. Kenya was represented at the 2019 World Final in Praia Grande, Brazil by Team Gamerz FC who impressed by beating Neymar Jr’s Global Five Team in their opening match. But it was Hungary's mixed team Zsírkréták that displayed a mix of skill, strength and speed on their way to becoming world champions that year.
“You’ll need to think carefully when making your selections to ensure you have all the right ingredients in your squad. Skill and focus are crucial in this short and fast game, but don’t forget to add defensive stability to your side if you want to make it” says Evanson Liyala of Team Gamerz FC on his 2019 experience in Brazil.
In the previous year, Kenyan champions Capital-FM FC represented strongly and advanced out of a tough pool beating Japan, Belgium and Argentina. They bowed out of the tournament in the Round of 16 knockout stage after losing to South Africa. The prize for conquering the National Final will be a ticket to the World Finals to take on the best teams from across the globe, where Neymar Jr will personally crown two new champions in the women’s and mixed categories.
In addition to that, the two winning teams will also receive a once in a lifetime opportunity to play a match against Neymar Jr himself and his hand-picked selection of world-class teammates. Neymar Jr once said that his dream five-a-side team would consist of ‘Messi, Suarez, Mbappe, Pogba and Hazard’. Now, it’s time for you to put the word out among friends and fellow players and get busy constructing your very own team of world-beaters.
About Red Bull Neymar Jr's Five aside Tournament :
Red Bull Neymar Jr’s Five is the Brazilian star’s signature five-a-side tournament bringing players aged 16 to 35 from all corners of the world together to celebrate their shared passion: football. It is a fast, technical and fun competition. More than 30 countries from 6 continents will be hosting tournament qualifiers, where players will compete with the same dream of making it through the qualifiers, to their National Final to book a ticket to the World Final.