[citation needed] Gjonbalaj attended from the age of 17 at North Carolina State University where he played on the Wolfpack's soccer team from 1983 to 1986.
[1] In June 1987, the Los Angeles Lazers of the Major Indoor Soccer League selected Gjonbalaj in the first round (2nd overall) of the 1987 MISL Draft.
[2] In May 1988, the Lazers loaned Gjonbalaj to the Albany Capitals of the American Soccer League.
In the fall of 1990, he signed with the New York Kick of the National Professional Soccer League (NPSL).
[11] In 1984 and 1985, Gjonbalaj played for the United States U-20 men's national soccer team.