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Chicago Soccer Star Tranfers Passion from Playing to Officiating

By Justin Breen | October 13, 2014 6:24am
 Taft High School graduate Arlind Kociu is a Division I men's soccer official and and aspires to work professional games.
Arlind Kociu
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PORTAGE PARK — For now, Arlind Kociu says sleep can wait.

There's no time to rest while the Taft High School graduate is chasing his dream of becoming a professional soccer official — working 8-10 men's and women's college, high school and youth games a week all over the Midwest while taking 19 credit hours as he pursues a master's degree in education at North Park University.

And that doesn't include the one hour he spends teaching classes every Monday through Friday at Penneyor Elementary in Norridge, or the Friday afternoons he spends substitute teaching at Taft.

There are only so many hours in the day, and the 23-year-old has to sacrifice something, and that something is shut-eye.

 Arlind Kociu poses with his mother, Venetike, father, Astrit, and brother Edison, following his graduation from Lewis University.
Arlind Kociu poses with his mother, Venetike, father, Astrit, and brother Edison, following his graduation from Lewis University.
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Arlind Kociu

"I just don't sleep," he said. "I've been killing myself, but it's going to be worth it. I'm never free trying to waste time, because time is money for me. I'm always finding stuff to do."

Justin Breen says Kociu has his sights set on FIFA:

To understand this mindset, it's key to know Kociu and his family immigrated to the United States — specifically Portage Park — from Vlore, an Albanian city of 80,000 on the Adriatic Sea. When he arrived as a 13-year-old, Kociu didn't speak a word of English.

Kociu came with his father, Astrit, mother, Venetike, and his older brother, Edison. Astrit works 12 hours a day, seven days a week driving a cab for a Rosemont company. Venetike has the same hours as a hair stylist. Edison, now 27, earned bachelor's degrees in physics and math, and a master's in electrical engineering from Washington University in St. Louis.

"So I'm competitive in everything," Kociu said. "I'm especially competitive with my brother, but in a good way. And my parents taught me to always work hard. All they care about is for me and my brother to succeed."

For years, Kociu thought he would become a professional soccer player. He was an All-State and All-City defender at Taft and led the Eagles to 59 wins in four varsity seasons, including 22 as a senior. The 2009 Taft graduate's No. 5 uniform also was retired and hangs at the school's Wall of Fame.

"His intensity to play his best at all times and motivate his teammates to improve was amazing," said William Angel, his coach at Taft.

Those skills and leadership allowed Kociu to warrant a scholarship to Lewis University, but a pair of ACL injuries in his left knee derailed his career.

After he first blew out his knee in November 2011, Kociu wanted to find a way to get back into playing shape. He thought officiating would be a good option, plus it would keep him close to the soccer pitch. He officiated his first game at a youth tournament in Rockford in April 2012, and a few days later served as an official at an IHSA tilt at Gage Park High School.

He became even more serious about the officiating role after re-injuring his knee on Aug. 29, 2012, in his return game as a Lewis senior. After he completed a second rehab stint in March 2013, Kociu was promoted to officiating college games, including ones in the Big Ten, Horizon League, Summit League and Mid-American Conference.

"His biggest strengths are his professionalism [and] his ability to read the game, and he's always willing to help out," said Steve Siomos, an officials assignor for multiple Midwest-based collegiate conferences. He's also officiated seven NCAA Final Fours.

Kociu's goal is to reach that level of match and perhaps beyond. Officials are assigned games based on a grading scale. Kociu, who began as a Grade 8 official, is currently Grade 7, which qualifies him for college tilts. The top levels are Grades 3 (MLS), and 2 and 1 (FIFA/World Cup).

Siomos said Kociu needs at least "three to four more years of working games and lots of luck" to enter the professional ranks. Angel said he's been telling people for "the last three years Arlind will become a FIFA ref." And Lewis University head coach Evan Fiffles said Kociu's passion for playing has transitioned nicely a different aspect of the game.

"Arlind always had a personality that was outgoing and personable," Fiffles said. "He understands the game, and it doesn't surprise me that he's done well officiating."

Kociu drives hundreds of miles a week to states like Indiana, Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio, Nebraska, Iowa and Pennsylvania in his 2002 Honda Accord. He said the money he earns officiating — college games pay $100 on up — is used to pay for tuition at North Park, from where he's expected to graduate in 2015.

And then he'll put even more of his time and effort into his officiating quest.

"I would like to go as far as I can until someone tells me I’m not going to make it," Kociu said.

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