Abram Zuil gears up for Milo U-18 football c’ship with competitive warm-ups

As they prepare for their second appearance in the Milo U-18 National Secondary School Football Championship, Abram Zuil Secondary School (AZSS) is leaving no stone unturned.

The team has scheduled a series of warm-up matches, aiming to sharpen their skills and build momentum ahead of the prestigious national tournament.

Last season, AZSS made an impressive run to the Round-of-16, where they played to an exhilarating 4-4 draw against Ann’s Grove Secondary before being eliminated 5-3 on penalties.

Now, with renewed determination, the squad is focused on surpassing their previous performance.

On Sunday, AZSS kicked off their preparation with a thrilling 4-4 draw against Essequibo Technical Institute (ETI) in their opening friendly encounter.

The match was an intense battle, showcasing the attacking prowess of both teams. Omar Kendall opened the scoring in just the second minute, giving AZSS an early lead.

Lester Noel doubled the advantage in the ninth minute, but ETI quickly responded with an equaliser from Randy Dejonge in the third minute, followed by a goal from Reis George in the 14th minute to put them ahead.

ETI extended their lead when Dejonge struck again in the 31st minute, and moments later, Adon Stephney converted a 37th-minute penalty to make it 4-2.

However, AZSS fought back, with Kendall completing his hat-trick by scoring in the 62nd and 71st minutes to secure the draw.

Despite the result, Abram Zuil’s coach Azizi Christiani remains optimistic about the team’s potential, focusing on fine-tuning strategies and improving defensive stability ahead of the tournament.

With more warm-up matches on the horizon, AZSS will continue to test their squad’s depth and adaptability.

Possible upcoming fixtures include matchups against 8th of May Secondary, one of Essequibo’s Top Clubs Dartmouth Dominators, and a highly anticipated rematch with Tertiary Institution Essequibo Technical Institute.

The team is eager to make a statement in this year’s Milo U-18 Championship, aiming for a deeper run in the competition.

As the countdown to kick-off begins, the entire Abram Zuil Secondary community is rallying behind their team, hoping to witness history in the making.