Allen moved to the United States in 1974 and attended Midwood High School in Brooklyn, New York, where graduated in 1976.
He also played for the JU Dolphins men's soccer team in 1978 and 1979 and holds the school record for lowest career goals against average.
He was selected to the East team of the NCSAA Senior Bowl[1] In 1980, the Tulsa Roughnecks of the North American Soccer League came to Jacksonville to play a pre-season game with the Washington Diplomats.
Tulsa head coach Charlie Mitchell offered Allen a contract contingent on him gaining his U.S. citizenship.
[2] In 1983, he played for the Oklahoma City Slickers of the American Soccer League.