"COKE ZERO" PRESENTS: WAYNE ROONEY’S STREET STRIKER

Sky 1 / HD · Football · 12 Nov 2008 · by: Sky

Football has always been played on the streets. Boys, girls and adults alike have been kicking balls around with the idea of beating their opponent and showing off their skills for as long as the game has existed. Think jumpers for goal posts, wally, three and in, no rules, cropper soccer. And now, as playing fields are being sold off across the UK, there is a new generation of street footballers emerging.

In ‘COKE ZERO’ PRESENTS: WAYNE ROONEY’S STREET STRIKER Britain's best footballer takes to the nation's streets to unearth the beautiful game's hidden gems in a new three-part series. Wayne Rooney, who discovered his own potential on the streets of Liverpool, visits housing estates, car parks and cobbled streets to uncover untapped teenage footballing talent.

In a concept created by 'Coke Zero', the Manchester United and England striker will whittle down 24 successful applicants, 22 boys and two girls, through a series of amazing street challenges. When just five competitors remain, they'll go head-to-head to win the prize of a lifetime - a place at next summer's 'Coke Zero' football camp in Brazil, the home of street football.

Featuring tests in all-round skills, the players will be hoping to impress Wayne Rooney as they perform dazzling freestyle acrobatic feats combined with solid footballing technique - street style.

Wayne comments: “I’ve always said that playing on the streets when I was young helped me a lot. The skills I developed helped me get into the Everton first team. You are working on your passing and touch when you’re playing with your mates and noticing they are getting better all the time”

“When I was younger I was on the streets until it went dark, I loved it. I never thought of anything else, I just wanted to play football. If we can encourage more kids to do that it would be great.”

On what Wayne Rooney's and ‘Coke Zero’sstreet striker needs Wayne comments: “We're looking for someone that’s technically good, has a good touch and shows they want to play and that they enjoy it. And that they’re fun to be around. It’s very exciting to be part of something like this - helping find good, young players. It’s amazing to see how talented the kids out there actually are but it’s horrible when I have to tell someone they’ve not made it to the next round. Just seeing the disappointment on their face is awful.”

Joining Wayne are football consultant Andy Ansah and Leeds and England forward Sue Smith. Andy has worked on a number of feature films and TV adverts including a number of Nike adverts choreographing moves with some of the worlds biggest footballers like Torres, Ronaldinho and, of course, Wayne Rooney.

Sue Smith comments: “Some of the skills on show have been amazing and I have to admit that I have been practising a few, although if I tried them in a Sunday match I think I would get clattered.”

In episode one of ‘COKE ZERO’ PRESENTS: WAYNE ROONEY’S STREET STRIKER the 24 competitors face the tower block challenge. Five balls dropped from the balconies of the 1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 7th floors with 40 seconds to trap, control and chip the ball into a skip. The best go through, the worst get eliminated. Have the likes of Kabir, Travis, Mohammed and Brooklyn got the skills to impress Wayne, Sue and Andy and make it through?

'Coke Zero' Presents: Wayne Rooney's Street Striker is essential viewing for football fans. See how a bunch of street footballers made a journey they will never forget.

‘Coke Zero’ Presents: Wayne Rooney’s Street Striker,
begins Sunday 30 November, 7pm, Sky1 and Sky1 HD