Laura Biondo at Novotel on Thursday. Pictures: B. Halder

Let us into your world of freestyling…

I discovered and started to play football when I was 10. That was when I moved to United States. I was born in South America. It was my dad (Roberto) who taught me everything. I played till I was 19-20. I still keep getting proposals to play… now, it’s play mainly five-a-sides.

My dad designed a biomechanical lab to help players improve their technique. So, I was the guinea pig of this lab. Then we moved to Italy after a couple of years. I kept training with this method that my dad created. Then my brother (Pier, 20 months younger to Laura) started to do a couple of freestyle tricks and I tagged along with him and tried. I was having fun. So, it was he who inspired and brought me into this world of freestyle.

It was the time when all the Nike Joga Bonito videos were out and we were constantly watching tricks by Ronaldinho! Then I met some freestylers who started teaching me. I got passionate about watching videos. I started to grab the ball and go outside and train. Try them, try them, try them… till I got it right. It was fun to do it!

Slowly, I was becoming good at it and I started entering competitions, started working with freestyle and now I am here. Travelling the world and loving it. I love to inspire kids mainly. They love it and it is a good way to motivate them to get active with sports… get them close to football itself. It was a dream for me to come to India. Freestyle is my main activity now.

So, it is a family of football lovers?

My dad used to play himself. My brother then started playing. We all support different teams which is funny. I support Roma. My brother supports Juventus and my dad Inter (Milan) because he arrived to play there. He didn’t sign though.

You are self-taught when it comes to freestyling…

I started watching videos and understanding the principles of freestyle. Most of the tricks have names and we have categories as well. Lower tricks are done with feet, upper tricks with the upper part of the body, sit-downs are everything sitting down. Any football can be used for freestyle. We use official match balls mainly, the ones that the players play with are the best ones.

What was the most challenging bit about freestyle?

I have enjoyed it so much that it hasn’t become difficult in a way that it became a struggle. There hasn’t been a particular moment when I have said: ‘This is too hard’. Those are the moments that mostly motivate you.

How much of freestyle videos do you still watch?

You still always watch videos because the sport itself is constantly evolving… tricks-wise and also creativity-wise. It is also a way to stay connected with the community.

Is it a large community?

Very large. There are quite a lot of professionals. The lovely thing about freestyle is that we consider ourselves as a family. Most of the time we are warming up together before a competition. It is all about uniting people, sharing experiences instead of rivalry.... It is something global, just like football. It’s amazing how much it is growing.

What are the prerequisites for freestyling?

Eat healthy and make sure you eat food that gives you energy. A lot of freestylers are getting into gymming. It does help you, but it is better always to train with a football. If you do weights or go for a run, you are going to have more muscle strength, but to be able to carry on for a certain amount of time with the football needs practise. To learn one trick, you are going to need strength, but we also have combos, combination of tricks… combination without juggling or touching the ball between a trick. The longer the combo, the harder it is.

I always eat very healthy… a lot of fruits, vegetables and protein, good carbs, potatoes and rice. I try to avoid pasta and bread. I try to avoid sweets too, but I love chocolates! I also work out in the gym… a little bit of weight training. It has helped me gain strength.

Are you a girlie girl or a tomboy?

I am a mix. I have always been a tomboy because I have always played football and with the boys. I used to play with the female team and in my free time, I would go and play with the boys. I am a girlie girl as well. I like to go shopping. I’ll start with regular clothes and then they’ll get lost in sports clothes!

If a man has to woo you, he must know how to play football then?

I would prefer yes because I see myself with someone who is close to what I do and like the same things I like, but I think what happens sometimes is just the opposite. I intimidate them because I am better than them with the football sometimes… not playing, but doing tricks.

Have you taught the Atletico de Kolkata players a trick or two?

Not quite yet! I have had the chance to interact with a few of them. I think they are trying to avoid me… no, I am just kidding! (Laughs) They are lovely.

What are your other passions?

I love to draw, especially cartoons. I’ve always had a dream to work with Disney. I love amusement parks, which is also what our family business is mainly about. I love business… I studied economy and marketing.