Tilus finds home away from home at Southern Wayne

By Allen Etzler
Published in Sports on October 20, 2014 1:49 PM

• Print
• Email

aetzler@newsargus.com

DUDLEY -- You don't walk on his field.

Obens Tilus doesn't believe in walking.

He's used to running and has done so his entire life -- either on the soccer pitch or all over the world. He's left his home, too, in search of a brighter future.

The Haitian-born Tilus picked up soccer at young age and realized he was a natural. He dominated camps and club teams, but understood he couldn't succeed in the sport in his native country since the money and opportunity to develop young players didn't exist.

Crime and violence in the Carribean nation destroyed lives instead.

Tilus has been on his own since he left Haiti four years ago.

"You have to take responsibility for yourself everywhere you go," said Tilus, who, at 15 played for a club team in Brazil.

"Brazil was a big experience for me. Brazil is the (home) of soccer. Soccer is a must in Brazil. That is the best experience of any country I go to."

That experience helped Tilus grow as a player. He learned different languages and speaks five fluently -- Hatian-Creole, French, Portuguese, Spanish and English. The experience in Brazil helped Tilus land a spot on the Haitian National U-17 team where he played left back, a position he says is more natural for him.

*

At Southern Wayne, however, Tilus handles the center back position. He takes most of the free kicks and goal kicks due to his strong right foot. His biggest asset is his intelligence and athleticism, which each -- in its own way -- benefit him during different points in a match.

"He's someone you have to gameplan against," Sping Creek head coach Linda Salter said. "He's so strong on the ball and takes great angles. He's a tough person to get around.

Eastern Wayne coach Jorg Wagner understood the talent of Tilus nearly immediately in their game last month.

"He doesn't always get a lot of help back there, but he's immensely talented," Wagner said. "He's definitely someone I'd love to have on my team."

When Southern Wayne plays, Tilus is often left all alone as the last line of defense to stop opposition when they send multiple attackers forward. But he's used to being alone, too. He doesn't accept that even sometimes playing one-on-three he is bound to give up a goal.

He has always taken responsibility for his play, and doesn't accept losing. That trait has come through years of playing for his club teams and hoping for something brighter.

"(Playing for clubs) makes you to be more independent," he said. "It is just like being (a) professional soccer player."

His dream is to play professionally.

Tilus hopes to earn a college scholarship to play in college and eventually sign with a Major League Soccer team. Wherever he winds up he has one goal -- bring his parents and sister over from Haiti to reunite and be a family once again.

"I miss my family so much," Tilus said. "Especially my mother and sister. They are my heart ... I hope I can one day them bring them here."

*

In the first game of the year, Tilus caught a Southern Wayne midfielder walking on the field.

Their opponent, Spring Creek, was attacking the Saints' goal. Tilus stopped the attack and booted the ball as far as he could out of bounds. He stopped the realm of play to yell at his teammate.

"What are you doing?" Tilus yelled. "You do not walk on this field."

Not if he's on it.

Tilus is driven, bred for a game he grew up playing on dirt fields and empty streets with plenty of room to run. A soccer field is the only place he's truly called home.

The game is his sanctuary. It's protected him, but also taken things from him at the same time. That's why he doesn't accept when someone doesn't give everything they have.

"I don't like to lose," he said. "If you don't run all the time you lose."

Tilus pauses for a minute.

He looks toward his home -- the SW field.

Maybe he's thinking about the 4-2 win or visualizing playing in front of his family in Haiti. He holds himself accountable and isn't unconcerned with the box score. His words to his teammate summed up everything in his life.

Tilus doesn't like to lose.

And soccer is his passion.