Monmouth Ocean Soccer Association (MOSA) will be inducting six new honorees into its Hall of Fame this evening, with the induction ceremony taking place at the Colts Neck Inn.
The 2025 inductees include:
Thomas (TJ) Papp
Currently a coach for the Dutchmen Soccer Club in MOSA, TJ has a long history of soccer success in the Jersey Shore Area, coming up through MOSA with Ocean United and eventually having a breakout high school soccer career with Ocean Township High School. He went on to become a team captain at UNC Greensboro before playing professionally for the Carolina Dynamos.
Tom Kain
Starting out as part of Wall Soccer Soccer Club, Tom went on to star at Wall High School, where he was named one of top 10 NJ high school soccer players of the 1980s. After high school, he played for Duke University, and his outstanding play for the Blue Devils led to his selection as a 1982 second team and 1983, 1984 and 1985 first team All American. In 1985, he won the Hermann Trophy as the most outstanding men’s collegiate soccer player. After graduating from Duke, Tom achieved a remarkable first when he became the first American born player to play professionally in Germany.
Rob Johnson
Currently an assistant coach with the Temple University Men’s Soccer Team, Rob got his start in soccer with the Jackson Soccer Club as a player. He was a successful multi-sport athlete at Jackson High School and was named by The Star-Ledger as one of the top ten New Jersey high school soccer players of the 1990s. Rob then played college soccer at Rutgers University, scoring 35 goals and 20 assists in his four seasons in Piscataway. His 90 points place him 6th all-time in school history. He scored 13 goals and nine assists as a freshman, and followed that up with 13 goals and seven assists in his sophomore year, leading the team to the NCAA tournament semifinals in 1994. He went on to play for the New York/New Jersey MetroStars (now Red Bull New York) in Major League Soccer.
Vincent Guardino
For nearly 50 years, Vinnie has been a constant presence in youth soccer, giving his time as a coach, referee, administrator and volunteer. After beginning his coaching career in 1978, he developed many youth players with patience and passion. He first started coaching in Lavallette and Seaside before spending approximately 15 years with TRIC and TRSA. As a referee, he not only officiated games at every level up to college, but also mentored young referees, always reminding them and the players to enjoy the game. Through statewide events like the NJYS TOPSoccer Jamboree, he has helped spread the spirit of inclusion, inspiring families, volunteers and fellow coaches throughout the community.
Paul Bette
Paul Bette began playing soccer at 10-years-old at the Greater Freehold Area Soccer Recreation League in Freehold. He played on the first Freehold MOSA team (Freehold 62s) in the mid to late 1970s. In high school, Paul he led Freehold Township High School to a Shore Conference championship and was named All Shore and MVP of his high school team. He then went on to play college soccer at NJIT in 1980. Paul was a four-year starter and captained the NJIT team to a national ranking of 7th, leading the team to an NCAA playoff berth and ECAC Final in 1983. Paul was also a USSF youth referee and officiated for MOSA in Freehold, Howell and Jackson. He arrived at the GAK as a men’s team player in 2000, and in 2001, he began coaching his youth team, which originally played in the Central Jersey Youth Soccer League (CJYSL). He later took his team to compete in MOSA, the first GAK team ever to compete in MOSA. Under his leadership as a member of the GAK Sports Committee for 25 years and as GAK President for the past 10 years, Paul has elevated the visibility and reputation of the club as being one of the premier soccer clubs in our area.
Lindsey Nappi
Currently serving as Second Vice President and Games Commissioner of MOSA, Lindsey has truly come full circle with MOSA. She started out playing in MOSA for the Freehold Soccer Club and guest-played for East Windsor (for Al Grupper) and the Middletown Soccer Club (for Ben Curci). She eventually became a coach when her kids were old enough to play at Battle of Monmouth (where she would go to become President in from 2011-2015). Lindsey joined the MOSA Board in 1997 and has been a member ever since.
“This year’s Hall of Fame inductees demonstrate how far soccer careers can progress after getting started with MOSA,” said Eric Offenberg, President of MOSA. “These former MOSA players and leaders are role models that our players can look up to and see what they can achieve after starting and competing at the grassroots level of soccer in Central New Jersey.”
“It truly remarkable to watch these individuals continue to operate at the top of their game,” stated Evan Dabby, CEO of New Jersey Youth Soccer. “MOSA does not just produce top soccer players, but top soccer coaches and officials as well.”