Kazbek Tambi 1983 (Rowdies II)

Kazbek Tambi was born December 8th, 1961 in Paterson, New Jersey. He attended Ridgewood High School in Ridgewood, New Jersey, graduating in 1979. He was a four year starter on the school's soccer team, earning All State his senior year. After graduating from high school, he attended Columbia University from 1979 to 1983 where he played on the men’s soccer team. He was the team captain and was part of the team which reached the 1983 Final Four. He graduated from Columbia with a bachelor’s degree in economics in 1983.

He was signed to the Rowdies II team in 1983, with the hope of him going onto make his debut for the Rowdies' first team. Sadly this never materialized. But in 1983, he was the captain of the U.S. team at the 1983 Pan American games. In 1984, he was a member of the U.S. team at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. He was originally named as an alternate to the team, but earned a roster spot when Dan Canter was injured just before the tournament.

The New York Cosmos then drafted Kazbek and he played with the team during the 1984 NASL season, appearing in 5 games. At the end of that season, the league folded and the Cosmos moved to the Major Indoor Soccer League. However, they were unable to complete the 1984-1985 MISL season before folding. On September 17th, 1985, he then signed with the Minnesota Strikers of MISL. That team folded in 1988 and he joined the outdoor New Jersey Eagles of the American Soccer League. In 1986, he also briefly played for the New York Express of MISL which lasted only 26 games before folding.

Since retiring from playing professionally, Kazbek has coached extensively at the club, collegiate, professional and national team levels. On the club level, he has served as the head coach of Arsenal World Class. He has spent time with both girls and boys team associated with the club.
In 1998, Seton Hall University hired him as an assistant coach to the men’s soccer team. Kazbek would remain in that position through the 2006 season. On January 25th, 2007, Seton Hall announced he would become the head coach of the women’s soccer team. He completed his law degree from Seton Hall in 1990. He practices law in addition to his coaching duties.
He has also coached at the professional level, spending three seasons (2002-2005) with the defunct New Jersey Stallions women’s team which competed in the W-League.
In June 2005, the U.S. Soccer Federation hired him as the coach for the U.S. U-16 girls national team.
In 2004, Ridgewood High School inducted Kazbek Tambi into its Athletic Hall of Fame.
Does anyone have a photo of Kazbek in a Rowdies II jersey? -if so please email me.