Deyna Not Included in Sockers’ Plans

One morning last week, while the Sockers were playing the Steamers in St. Louis, veteran midfielder Kaz Deyna scored 11 goals and added seven assists in a 17-6 Socker victory at an empty San Diego Sports Arena.

The practice game between a group of Socker substitutes and amateur players and a Chinese amateur team was the highlight of Deyna’s week.

“It’s fun because I still love to play soccer, but I feel bad,” said Deyna, once one of the world’s best players. “I should be in the playoffs. They owe me something.”

Deyna, 38, was an integral part of the Sockers’ four indoor championships. But during the latter part of the regular season, Deyna was relegated to the bench. In the playoff series against St. Louis, he did not even dress for any of the four games.

Socker Coach Ron Newman, asked earlier this season to explain Deyna’s lack of playing time, said that age has caught up with him.

“He (Newman) doesn’t talk to me,” Deyna said. “He talks to Jacque (Ladouceur), Hugo (Perez) and Cha Cha (Namdar). That’s because they play World Cup and Olympics like him.”

Deyna laughs at that last remark, because he starred in the 1974 World Cup and for gold-medal winner Poland in the 1972 Olympics.

Despite not being given the opportunity to contribute to his team, Deyna practices with youngsters such as Raffaele Ruotolo each morning at the Sports Arena when the team is away. When the club is home, he is the first one in the locker room to dress and the first to play soccer tennis to warm up.

“This is my life,” Deyna said. “For 30 years I’ve worked the same job. I arrive at 9:30 for a 10 o’clock practice and at 10 or 10:30 for 11 o’clock practices.”