Sockers Release Namdar

Midfielder Cha Cha Namdar, who played on four of the Sockers’ indoor championship teams, was released Thursday after five seasons in San Diego.

Namdar said that he will try to join another Major Indoor Soccer League team and that the timing of his release surprised and disappointed him.

“I wish they would have let me know in the summer,” said Namdar, who was re-signed to a one-year nonguaranteed contract during the summer. “I don’t understand why they signed me.”

Coach Ron Newman said he tried to trade Namdar but couldn’t “get anyone to bite.”

“It was very hard because I always liked Cha Cha,” Newman said. “He did a good job on power plays. (But) I need to find someone cheaper, a 21- or 22-year-old, to do the bit roles.”

Namdar, 29, earned approximately $45,000 a season. In five seasons with the Sockers, he scored 42 goals and had 47 assists in 220 games. Last season, he played in all 52 regular-season games and scored seven goals with five assists.

“Ron thought I made too much money,” Namdar said. “He said he could hire a couple of young players and develop them for that amount of money. If he thinks he can get the same quality out of those two players, good luck.”