In the midst of the bustle of capital transitwhen the traffic light turns red and the vehicles stop for a few seconds, the unusual spectacle begins on the February 27th Avenue. Daniel Sanchez Ramireza young Colombian with a dream that he builds from the streets of Santo Domingo, shows his skills.
A soccer ball that raises, rotates on the forehead, descends to the chest, runs along the back and returns to the air with millimeter precision. It’s not a football game. Is art in motion learned by consistency and discipline.
Born in El Carmen de Atrato-Chocó, and based in Medellín, Colombia, Daniel is 26 years old and has been dedicating himself to freestyle soccer, also known as freestyle football. In addition to being an athlete, he is video game developer and writer, a combination that reveals his vision: to professionalize this discipline at an international level relying on technology.
A different sport from traditional football
He freestyle soccer is an individual discipline that consists of performing tricks, juggling and stunts with a ball without letting it fall, using feet, knees, head, chest and even the back. Unlike conventional football, there are no teams or goals; The goal is technical mastery, creativity and body expression.
Daniel explains that balance and control are not achieved overnight. “Is a lot of practicea lot of frustration, error after error. Nobody learns without falling many times,” he says. To master the ball on the head or execute complex sequences, it is required spatial awarenesstime control and constant repetition.
He learned in a way autodidact watching videos of international referencesalthough in Medellín, a city considered a world power of freestyle, there are already specialized schools and even programs promoted from institutional spaces.
Dominican Republic: work, strategy and discipline
Daniel recently arrived at Dominican Republic with a sports partner. He chose the country based on references from other freestylers who had experience in Quisqueya, motivated by the tourist attraction.
Each day can last between four and five hours under the sun and before starting, measure the exact time that the red light lasts and plan your routine accordingly. mental stopwatch. He knows how long each trick takes and adjusts his presentation to finish just before the light turns green.
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On average, it can generate between 3,000 and 4,000 Dominican pesos per day, people are generous although they recognize that the work is physically demanding, exhausting and risky and requires managing the load so as not to affect their sports performance.
The security is another key factor. Motorcyclists and distracted drivers represent a constant risk, so the strategic location It is a fundamental part of the show. So far, he says, there have been no serious incidents.
For Daniel, performing on the street is not just a form of immediate sustenance. It is part of a larger plan: raise resources to formalize a company that promotes freestyle soccer on international stages and connect it with the digital world.
Your profile as video game developer opens the door to integrate technologyvirtual competitions, training platforms and new ways to monetize sports talent.
“With a ball you can know countries and open opportunities“says Daniel while the traffic light allows him a brief break with its change of light while waiting for the red that invites the show full of excitement to restart. hope.
