Varsity Assistant Coach & JV Coach Pete Canuel remembers Tony:
	My first encounter with Tony was around our '93-'94 season when, during our home matches, I noticed an elderly gentleman in the stands.  He would be sitting where our Dragon fans would be, but apart from them.  During half times, Tony would be on the track surface near the team's bench, listening.  During one of those half times and having a suspicious nature, I approached this gentleman and introduced myself.  He informed me that his name was "Tony Zir---" something.  I asked him if "Mr. Z" would be alright and his reply was, "Tony" would be better.  During our brief moment, I learned that he was from Europe, his wife had died, he was a retired engineer who had worked in many foreign countries, and that he had a great knowledge and fondness for soccer.      He had come to both the boys and girls soccer matches at S.O.H.S. and enjoyed the girls style better.  He stated that the girls played better tactical and technical soccer and appeared to have a better fundamental understanding of the sport.  A few weeks later, Tony asked for a girl's schedule which I gave to him.  Coach Tucker asked me who that gentleman was and I replied, "Tony" (I couldn't remember his last name), "Tony Z".  Tony asked where we practiced and if he could come to our practices. I spoke with Coach Tucker regarding Tony's request and we both did not see any problems with this.  I later informed Tony that he would be welcome to attend our practices.  So began Tony's history with the girl's soccer program at South Oldham and the rest is history.      Throughout the years that followed, our friendship grew stronger.  I visited him regularly and learned much from his wisdom.  During the many years, Tony never missed practices or games.  He triumphed with us in our many accomplishments and in our misfortunes.  He knew every girl by name and he would speak to the girls when they sought some of his wisdom regarding any problems.      When Tony's health started to wane and he was hospitalized, the girls dedicated a State Championship to him and won.  On our way home, we had a police escort upon entering Oldham County and the girls wanted the bus to be escorted to the hospital instead of the High School and the police obliged.  The hospital staff took the girls to Tony's room and the moment that Tony and the team met will never be forgotten.  The unseen medicine between the girls and Tony could be felt but not explained.  You could have heard a pin drop had one been dropped on Tony's hospital bed.      As the years went by, Tony's health continued to decline.  He began missing a couple of matches and the girls would speak to him via speaker phone and dedicate games to him (and win) and cheer and make him feel better.  Tony would call me and always tell me how much he appreciated the fact that he was a part of something big and of how the girls were much better medicine than anything the doctors could prescribe for him.      Tony was a friend who gave all and asked for nothing in return.  I think about him every day and I wish that our younger girls could have known him better.  Tony will be remembered in hundreds of memories and never forgotten by those he has touched.  I will miss him and will never forget.        Pete Canuel