‘Trick-shots’ make Valley teenager social media star

M Aamir Khan

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, August 9

Shah Huzaib (17) can kick a football through moving tyres and baskets from a long distance. His football can also knock off small bottles placed on the heads of people and trick-shots of this nature have made this teenager from Charar-e-Sharief in Central Kashmir’s Budgam district a social media star.

While his skills have earned him rave reviews on the Facebook and Instagram, videos of his trick-shots have also been featured on social media sites like “Oh My Goal” and “People Are Awesome” that have a huge following across the globe.

‘Video generated five million views’

"My video titled ‘Insane trick-shot’ in which I kicked a tennis ball through two moving tape rolls on ‘People are Awesome’ generated around five million views. My trick-shot also found a place on ‘Oh My Goal’ that got rave reviews from all over the world." Shah Huzaib, Football enthusiast

“My video titled ‘Insane trick-shot’in which I kicked a tennis ball through two moving tape-rolls on ‘People are Awesome’ generated around five million views. My trick-shot also found a place on ‘Oh My Goal’ that got rave reviews from all over the world. I also get a lot of encouragement from people when I post videos on the Facebook and Instagram,” Huzaib told The Tribune.

He said a group of US-based youngsters inspired him to take to this sport. “I actively started playing football in 2016, but I started doing trick-shots in 2018 after I saw videos of ‘Dude Perfect’ on YouTube. It is a five-member US-based group and they inspired me,” he said.

Huzaib, a Class XI student at Higher Secondary School Charar-e-Sharief, now wants to make the sport popular in the Valley but regrets that he does not get encouragement and a platform to exhibit his skills.

“My aim is to make this sport popular but the encouragement I get is confined to social media. Unfortunately, there is no platform where I can exhibit my skills. I only hope that the government or private players too notice my talent and come forward for sponsorship. Only then, it will encourage youngsters like me,” he said.

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