Milo U-20 Schools Football Competition

Quest for top honours begins this weekend with Round of 16 action

Now that the group phase of this year’s Milo Under-20 Schools Football Competition has been completed, the quest for top honours among the sixteen surviving teams will begin this Saturday with four matches scheduled to be played, at the Ministry of Education ground, Carifesta Avenue.

In the opening game at 11:00 hrs, North Ruimveldt go up against former champion Lodge in a matchup that is expected to be a sizzling affair.

Lodge will be hoping that players possessing the talent such as Shemar Smith, Leon Blake and Simeon Hackett lead them to victory and a place in the quarter-final, while North Ruimveldt’s pursuit of a win and a spot in the last eight will depoend largely on the performances of Tyrese Rowley, Ashaish Alleyne and Matthew Harrison.

Last year’s beaten finalist Dolphin then jump into action when they square off against Richard Ishmael and this encounter, too, promises fireworks. The former has shown excellent form to date and seems determined to return to the championship round and possibly win the title this time.

Leading goalscorer Leon Richardson has been in impeccable form so far for Dolphin and he will no doubt be depending on players such as Akeem Daniels and Derick Ross to complement his offensive exploits to set up a victory.

On the other hand, Richard Ishmael’s Tamiel Hutson, Isaiah Jack and Closson McLaren, who are among the leading marksmen on the team, maintain their scoring prowess against opposing defenders.

Queens’s College then collides with Tucville and even though the East Georgetown-based side started the tournament sluggishly, they’ve gradually picked up momentum, whilst gaining much confidence and the North Georgetown-based unit should not take them lightly even though they may start as favourites to advance.

Tucville closed the group stage with a single loss to defending champion Chase Academic Foundation, but that was followed by two wins so they may be feeling supremely confident and upbeat about their chances of moving further into the competition.

Keifer Brandt, who is unquestionably their best player in addition to Calvin Peters and Julian Bamfield are the ones whose duty it will be to orchestrate victory, while Queen’s Colege hunt for a place in the last eight depends on the performances of Michael Hunter, Kevin Wills, Damani Thomas, Ashmar Angel and Jumal Sampson.

The final game of the day pits St. Rose’s against Bishop’s High and this encounter resembles a blockbuster.