NJIT Mourns the Loss of Athletics Hall of Famer Hernan "Chico" Borja

NJIT Athletics mourns the loss of NJIT Hall of Famer, Soccer All-American and US Men's National team member Hernan "Chico" Borja who passed away at the age of 61 on Thursday, January 28.

"Hernan "Chico" Borja is one of the finest athletes to have ever worn a Highlander uniform," said Associate Vice President/Director of Athletics Lenny Kaplan.   "Beyond the accomplishments of a stellar playing career, Chico was a wonderful person with an indomitable spirit.   The entire NJIT athletic family is sad today for our collective loss."

Borja, an all-America soccer player during his career at New Jersey Institute of Technology from 1977 to 1980 played under coach Mal Simon.

"Hernan was a one in a million person," said Coach Simon.  "He was a great soccer player, but more important a pleasure to have as a friend. Hernan was devoted to his parents, wife and family and friends and had a smile and laugh that were infectious."

He was a member of the famed New York Cosmos and started for the team in 1981, 1982 and 1984.

As a member of the Major Indoor Soccer League, Borja was one of the greatest players in that league's 14-year history, finishing fourth all-time in assists (338) and eighth in total points (612).

In 1992, FIFA, the world's governing body for all soccer, named him to its all-World Championship first team for futsal, FIFA's 5 v 5 official indoor game.

He played for the US Nation Team from 1982-88, starting nine matches over that time. Playing for Team USA, he scored goals in three different international matches; 2-0 win over Haiti on April  8, 1983; 2-1 win over Trinidad and Tobago on May 15, 1985 (World Cup Qualifier); and 3-1 loss vs. Chile on June 3, 1988 

Hernan was a member of the 1984 and 1988 US Olympic soccer teams.