Freestyle football from street to stadium
Kenneth Law has only been in Melbourne a few months but his freestyle football skills have launched him into the opening ceremony of the Asian Cup.

8 JAN 2015 - 9:22PM
Backpacker to star in dream role at Asian Cup opening ceremony


A young backpacker is excitedly preparing to take part in the opening ceremony of the Asian Cup after impressing organisers with his freestyle football skills while busking in Melbourne.
By Phillippa Carisbrooke
8 JAN 2015 - 4:38 PM

Kenneth Law from Hong Kong has been performing in the Melbourne CBD since arriving in Australia three months ago.

His tricks caught the eye of one of the organisers of the Asian Cup. They got talking, and the 24-year-old was invited to join a group of freestylers performing at tomorrow night's ceremony at Melbourne's Rectangular Stadium.

Millions will be watching
The ceremony will have a world-wide audience of millions. But the entertainer is taking it all in his stride.

"It is one of my biggest performances ever. And yeah I am really excited. It's going to be cool," he said.

The Chief Executive of the Asian Cup, Michael Brown, said he expected Mr Law's theatrics to be a hit.

"Everybody can kick a soccer ball. Or can learn to do tricks. But when you can do that with such skill and professionalism as he does it really adds a bit of fun," he said.

"When you see the spirit of tomorrow night and the opening ceremony - it's all a hush hush secret - Kenneth fits in really well."

Minutes after the ceremony the Socceroos will kickoff their Cup campaign, taking on Kuwait.

This morning, event organisers said fans could still buy tickets, with new restricted view seats behind the player benches released.

"We rapidly want to sell the venue and sell out and give the Opposition for the Socceroos a big Aussie welcome," said Mr Brown.

Proud family tuning in back home
Kenneth Law's family and friends will be watching the ceremony on television in Hong Kong.

The mechanical engineering and finance graduate had intended to spend just six months in Australia. But his unexpected success, along with his love of Melbourne's lifestyle and people, has him changing his plans. He would like to stay a year.

"In the future I want to be an airline pilot," he said. "And I am going to have some flight training here in Melbourne."

Mr Law says he has made many friends busking and enjoys the cheer his performances bring passers-by.

"I love how it connects with the people on the street. And it kind of brings joy to people watching me," he said.