Soccer coach sets more goals
By Ruth Rachel Przybojewski
Ali Kazemaini has come back home, home to CSU where he began his collegiate career. He took over the soccer program on Dec. 15, 2005, leaving John Carroll University after 14 successful.
Kazemaini, a native of Tehran, Iran, came to CSU in 1980. During his collegiate career the teams he played on went 42-21-12 and made one NCAA championship appearance.
At the end of his college years Kazemaini left his mark on the soccer program. He led the team in scoring for two straight years, a feat that was only done by one other player in Viking history. To this day, Kazemaini ranks fifth in goals (41), sixth in total points (102), and ninth in assists (20).
After college, staying in Cleveland was important to him.
“I became very close with a Lithuanian family and ultimately they adopted me as their son,” Kazemaini said. “That is one of the main reasons I stayed in Cleveland. I have been a Clevelander ever since I came to school here. This is home now.”
In 1984, he played for the Cleveland Force and indoor soccer league. He was successful right from the start being awarded the MISL Rookie of the Year for the 1984-85 season.
Kazemaini was dedicated to the sport on and off the field. He played 11 years of professional soccer, but during the off season he coached. Coaching was a way for him to stay involved.
“I have a deep passion for the game, I wanted to stay involved,” Kazemaini said.
Building a team is what Kazemaini does best.
“For me the most important thing is to try and build team chemistry. If you don’t have team chemistry, I think you are limited as far as success is concerned,” Kazemaini said.
Last year, the soccer team went 0-17-1. As of Oct. 15, the team is 6-9-2. The team has increased wins but it’s not a finalized foundation to build upon. Wins are not the main concern right now.
“We just dug the hole for the foundation,” Kazemaini said.
He went on to say the team has a good crop of talents but he’s still looking at the quality of players and where they need to improve.
The soccer team has two games left until the season ends on Oct. 20.
Kazemaini’s main goal is not to necessarily win the Horizon League Conference. He feels the team is still rebuilding and it’s important to gain the experience that championship play brings.
“To go out there and give our players good experience that is what it is all about. Playing in front of a good crowd against a well coached team. That is a great experience that will go along way for our freshman,” Kazemaini said.
With 11 freshmen on the team and an average of seven to eight players starting every game, this experience will definitely be beneficial.
Rebuilding and reconstructing the soccer program is the main focus of Kazemaini.
“This school’s soccer program has to become sufficient enough to attract good enough recruits,” Kazemaini said.
He went on to say the field has to be self-sustaining with its own offices, visitor locker rooms, dorms specifically for the soccer team as well as sufficient concession stands.
“Right now off the field is more important. We will build the foundation on the local kids but ultimately the special player has to come from the outside for us to compete,” Kazemaini said.
“For us to put this program back on the national scene like it was when I played, we have a little ways to go,” Kazemaini said.
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