At the age of three, sophomore Zain Akeel fell in love with soccer. His soccer career advanced as he moved on to play for the Rochester Youth Soccer League.
12 years later, Akeel explains, “I love the speed of play and the adrenaline when the ball is at my feet.”
Akeel currently plays for Vardar Academy as a center midfielder. He has played for the team for over 5 years and plans to complete his high school soccer career at the club. Unfortunately, playing for the club disqualifies Akeel from playing for the school, so many Detroit Country Day students have not witnessed Akeel’s excellence on the field. Akeel’s athletic ability goes further than the field, as he is also an avid swimmer and practices yoga. Akeel describes yoga as, “a way to calm himself after practice or a game.” Yoga is also known to increase flexibility and be a stress reliever. Both aspects truly help Akeel reach his potential as a soccer player. Also, a member of the varsity men’s swim team, Akeel swims freestyle.
“Swimming helps me build up my endurance during soccer’s offseason. It’s a wonderful way to get toned”, said Akeel.
Spending his time training and participating in a variety of sports, Akeel has proved to be a versatile athlete. Currently, Akeel is ranked as 13th in the nation by the US Soccer Development Academy. His persistence on the field has paid off. However, his journey doesn’t end there. Akeel’s goals are to play soccer for Michigan State University and play in the Big Ten.
In addition to Akeel’s athletic ability, he loves music. Akeel takes his excellence off the field while playing the guitar. He enjoys playing country music and writing his own songs. Akeel demonstrates a well-rounded individual by taking part in athletics, fine arts, and academics.
His highlights can be found here.
