Sockers’ Deyna Seeks Three-Year Contract Extension

Soccer players make a living with their feet, but Sockers’ management has told Kaz Deyna to start using his head a little more.

Quite simply, Owner Bob Bell and Coach Ron Newman gave Deyna, who is seeking a three-year contract extension, something to think about in a closed-door meeting on Friday morning. They reminded Deyna that he is 37 years old and had not scored a goal since Feb. 6. Furthermore, he seemed to have lost a step or two on the field.

“We let him know that if he was looking for a new contract, he was not playing well enough,” Newman said. “When he gets back to peak performance, then it’s time to talk. Maybe Kazzie didn’t realize he was not performing as well as he could. He wasn’t putting out in practice like he could have or should have. I was disappointed to see he wasn’t giving everything he had.”

Deyna’s situation certainly changed during the last two games following the meeting. He had one goal and one assist as the Sockers beat Tacoma on Friday night, 7-5. Then on Saturday, he had another goal in a 3-2 win at Los Angeles.

“I think Kazzie has a little hormone in him,” Bell said. “When he knows it’s contract time, that little hormone makes him play better.”

Deyna’s agent, Scott Simpson, said Friday’s meeting was productive and cleared the air on some items. However, Simpson does not think Deyna began playing better simply because contract talks had reopened.

Instead, Simpson reminded that Deyna had missed eight games in February and early March with a sprained knee. Simpson said Deyna started playing better because his knee was getting better.

“Kazzie’s still better than 80% of the people when he’s 50%,” Simpson said. “But he has to be in the right mental condition, too.”

Deyna began contract talks with the Sockers in November. He became frustrated when the team would not agree to his request for a three-year contract for $270,000. Not so coincidentally, Deyna’s performance began to slip about the time his contract talks hit a standstill.

The Sockers are still believed to be offering a two-year contract. They do not want to be obligated to Deyna when he’s 40.

“I don’t want to give three years to anyone at his age,” Bell said. “Certainly with any player at that age, you have to be very careful in what you evaluate. Every time we think Kazzie is over the hill, he comes back and plays better than ever.”

Simpson said the Sockers should make their move soon. He expects Deyna to make a career decision within two weeks.

“Either his name better be on paper then, or he’ll make plans to do something else,” Simpson said. “We know Bob Bell has had his hands full with his financial situation. He has tried to put Deyna on the back burner. It’s time for him to fish or cut bait now, or else Kaz will be going back to Poland.”

Socker Notes

Coach Ron Newman said Paulo Moura and Ade Coker may both return this weekend. Moura has been out more than two months with various knee problems. Coker has missed the last five games with a bruised knee.