Njego Pesa
Encyclopedia
Njego Pesa is a former Yugoslavian-American soccer forward
who played in the North American Soccer League
and Major Indoor Soccer League. He earned seven caps with the U.S. national team.
, New York
. He attended Ulster Community College
where he played on the men's soccer team from 1977 to 1978.http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F1071FFA3D5F0C718CDDA90994DB484D81&n=Top%2fReference%2fTimes%20Topics%2fSubjects%2fS%2fSoccer Ulster won the JUCO national title in 1978 with Pesa leading the attack.
of the North American Soccer League
(NASL) traded Jeff Bourne
in exchange for the first pick in the upcoming College Draft. With that pick, they took Pesa, signing him for $18,000. In 1979, he saw time in twelve games, scoring only one goal, but came alive in 1980 when he bagged thirteen goals in twenty-six appearances. During the winter of 1979-1980, Pena also played for the expansion St. Louis Steamers
of the Major Indoor Soccer League. In 1981, Pena experienced a scoring drought with the Tornado, scoring only one goal in twenty-six games. The Tornado then traded him to the Tampa Bay Rowdies. The Rowdies traded him to the Tulsa Roughnecks
half way through the 1982 season after Pesa failed to score in eleven games. The trade took place on July 2, 1982 as the Rowdies sent Pesa and Terry Moore
to Tulsa in exchange for Don Droege
. Pesa regained his scoring touch with the Roughnecks, getting four goals in thirteen games with Tulsa that season. Then in 1983, his career hit its highest point as Tulsa went to the NASL title game. The Roughnecks won that game, and the NASL title, defeating the Toronto Blizzard
2-0. Pesa scored the first goal and was the game’s MVP. Pesa left both the Roughnecks and the NASL in 1983 to devote himself to indoor soccer. In 1983, he signed with the New York Arrows
of Major Indoor Soccer League
(MISL). In March 1984, the Arrows sold him to the St. Louis Steamers
. He remained with the Steamers through the 1985-1986 season. In 1986, he moved to the expansion New York Express
, but the team folded after the half time break. Pesa became a free agent and signed with the San Diego Sockers on March 6, 1987. The Sockers released him in June following the loss to the Tacoma Stars
in the MISL championship series.
between 1979 and 1982.
He scored one goal with the U.S. Olympic team in a 4-4 tie with Surinam in an April 2, 1980 Olympic qualification game. However, that game is not considered a full international by FIFA
.
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
who played in the North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
and Major Indoor Soccer League. He earned seven caps with the U.S. national team.
Youth
Pesa was born in Yugoslavia, but moved to the U.S. as a youth and grew up in QueensQueens
Queens is the easternmost of the five boroughs of New York City. The largest borough in area and the second-largest in population, it is coextensive with Queens County, an administrative division of New York state, in the United States....
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. He attended Ulster Community College
Ulster County Community College
SUNY Ulster is a public two-year college supported by Ulster County, New York and the State University of New York. The main campus is located in Stone Ridge, New York...
where he played on the men's soccer team from 1977 to 1978.http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F1071FFA3D5F0C718CDDA90994DB484D81&n=Top%2fReference%2fTimes%20Topics%2fSubjects%2fS%2fSoccer Ulster won the JUCO national title in 1978 with Pesa leading the attack.
Professional
In January 1979, the Dallas TornadoDallas Tornado
Dallas Tornado were a soccer team based in Dallas that played in the NASL. They played from 1967 to 1981. Their home fields were Cotton Bowl , P.C. Cobb Stadium , Franklin Field , Texas Stadium and Ownby Stadium on the SMU campus...
of the North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
(NASL) traded Jeff Bourne
Jeff Bourne
Jeff Bourne was an English football striker who spent most of his early career in the lower English divisions before moving to the United States where he played six seasons in the North American Soccer League, two in the second division American Soccer League...
in exchange for the first pick in the upcoming College Draft. With that pick, they took Pesa, signing him for $18,000. In 1979, he saw time in twelve games, scoring only one goal, but came alive in 1980 when he bagged thirteen goals in twenty-six appearances. During the winter of 1979-1980, Pena also played for the expansion St. Louis Steamers
St. Louis Steamers (1979–1988)
The original St. Louis Steamers played in the original Major Indoor Soccer League from 1979 through 1988. Their home fixtures were held at the St. Louis Arena.-Ownership:* Ben Kerner & Partnership * Thomas M...
of the Major Indoor Soccer League. In 1981, Pena experienced a scoring drought with the Tornado, scoring only one goal in twenty-six games. The Tornado then traded him to the Tampa Bay Rowdies. The Rowdies traded him to the Tulsa Roughnecks
Tulsa Roughnecks
-NASL:The Tulsa Roughnecks were a North American Soccer League team from Tulsa, Oklahoma. They played at Skelly Stadium on the campus of the University of Tulsa. The Roughnecks were a regular in the NASL playoffs, and won the NASL Soccer Bowl in 1983, defeating the Toronto Blizzard at B.C. Place...
half way through the 1982 season after Pesa failed to score in eleven games. The trade took place on July 2, 1982 as the Rowdies sent Pesa and Terry Moore
Terry Moore (soccer)
Terence "Terry" Moore is a former Canadian national soccer team, NASL, and Irish League player.A steady central defender Moore lived the first five years of his life in Moncton until his family moved to Northern Ireland. He grew up there and played in the Irish League for Larne and the famous...
to Tulsa in exchange for Don Droege
Don Droege
Don Droege is a former U.S. soccer defender who played seven seasons in the North American Soccer League and three seasons in the Major Indoor Soccer League. He also earned eight caps with the U.S. national team between 1977 and 1979.-Youth and college:...
. Pesa regained his scoring touch with the Roughnecks, getting four goals in thirteen games with Tulsa that season. Then in 1983, his career hit its highest point as Tulsa went to the NASL title game. The Roughnecks won that game, and the NASL title, defeating the Toronto Blizzard
Toronto Blizzard (NASL)
The Toronto Blizzard were a professional soccer club based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada that played in the North American Soccer League.-History:The Toronto Metros joined the NASL in 1971. Their home field was Varsity Stadium....
2-0. Pesa scored the first goal and was the game’s MVP. Pesa left both the Roughnecks and the NASL in 1983 to devote himself to indoor soccer. In 1983, he signed with the New York Arrows
New York Arrows
The New York Arrows was an indoor soccer team that played in the original Major Indoor Soccer League from 1978 to 1984. They won the first four MISL championships.-Preparing for the first season:...
of Major Indoor Soccer League
Major Soccer League
The Major Indoor Soccer League, known in its final two seasons as the Major Soccer League, was an indoor soccer league in the USA from 1978 to 1992. After the folding of the North American Soccer League in 1984, the MISL was the Division I soccer league for the United States...
(MISL). In March 1984, the Arrows sold him to the St. Louis Steamers
St. Louis Steamers (1979–1988)
The original St. Louis Steamers played in the original Major Indoor Soccer League from 1979 through 1988. Their home fixtures were held at the St. Louis Arena.-Ownership:* Ben Kerner & Partnership * Thomas M...
. He remained with the Steamers through the 1985-1986 season. In 1986, he moved to the expansion New York Express
New York Express
This article is about the former indoor soccer team.The New York Express were a soccer team based out of Uniondale, New York that played in the Major Indoor Soccer League. They played only one season, the 1986-1987 season. Their home arena was Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum...
, but the team folded after the half time break. Pesa became a free agent and signed with the San Diego Sockers on March 6, 1987. The Sockers released him in June following the loss to the Tacoma Stars
Tacoma Stars
The Tacoma Stars were a franchise in the original Major Indoor Soccer League. The team existed from 1983 - 1992 and is notable for two reasons. First, the team holds the record for the largest crowd to witness an indoor soccer game with 21,728 people packing the Tacoma Dome to see Tacoma fall to...
in the MISL championship series.
National team
Pesa earned seven caps with the U.S. national teamUnited States men's national soccer team
The United States men's national soccer team represents the United States in international association football competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF...
between 1979 and 1982.
He scored one goal with the U.S. Olympic team in a 4-4 tie with Surinam in an April 2, 1980 Olympic qualification game. However, that game is not considered a full international by FIFA
FIFA
The Fédération Internationale de Football Association , commonly known by the acronym FIFA , is the international governing body of :association football, futsal and beach football. Its headquarters are located in Zurich, Switzerland, and its president is Sepp Blatter, who is in his fourth...
.