Sockers Let Segota Play in Yugoslavia

Socker midfielder Branko Segota--the team’s leading scorer last season--will spend the next three months playing for Dynamo Zagreb of the First Division in Yugoslavia. Dynamo Zagreb opens its 26-game schedule Aug. 10.

Bob Bell, managing director of the Sockers, gave Segota permission to play in Yugoslavia as long as Dynamo Zagreb agreed to take out an insurance policy for Segota and make the Sockers the beneficiaries. Final details involving the insurance policy were worked out Tuesday.

Segota is scheduled to leave San Diego today and required to return no later than Nov. 2, which means he would miss about four weeks of training camp. That would give him two weeks to practice with the Sockers before the Major Indoor Soccer League season opens Nov. 14.

“I want to thank Bob Bell for giving me the opportunity to play outdoor soccer,” Segota said. “I want to show the doubters that I do have the ability to play outdoors and to prove that the Canadian coaches made a mistake.”

Segota was on the Canadian National team that participated in the World Cup last month, but played only sparingly because of a feud with Coach Tony Waiters.