Cha Cha Namdar
Encyclopedia
Asghar Shadin "Cha Cha" Namdar is a retired Iranian-American soccer player who spent time in the Major Indoor Soccer League, North American Soccer League
and Continental Indoor Soccer League
.
Namdar grew up in Tehren where he played for the Iranian youth soccer team. He attended college and played soccer at Texas Tech University
. During his college years, he tended bar in Chicago where a waitress named him "Cha Cha". In 1980, Namdar walked into an open Phoenix Inferno
tryout and received a contract from the Major Indoor Soccer League club. He played for the Inferno for two seasons before being released in 1982. He then attended an open tryout with the San Diego Sockers as it prepared for the 1982-1983 MISL season. He again received a contract and would spend two years with the Sockers. At the time, the Sockers also played during the summer in the North American Soccer League
and Namdar saw time in two NASL games in 1984 before losing the remainder of the season with a knee injury. Sockers returned to the MISL after playing in the NASL indoor season in 1984-1984. Namdar remainded with the Sockers, winning several championships, until he was waived in October 1987. He signed three weeks later with the Los Angeles Lazers
. The Lazers folded in 1989 and on July 11, 1989, the St. Louis Storm
selected Namdar in the second round of the dispersal draft. The Storm released Namdar during the pre-season and he returned to San Diego where he played in the amateur San Diego Premier Soccer League. In March 1991, Namdar signed with the Wichita Wings
. In 1993, Namdar returned to the Sockers which was now playing in the Continental Indoor Soccer League
. He finished his career with the Sockers in 1994. His daughter, Jasmine Namdar, played soccer at the University of Arizona and with the San Diego WFC SeaLions
.
North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
and Continental Indoor Soccer League
Continental Indoor Soccer League
The Continental Indoor Soccer League was an indoor soccer league that played from 1993 to 1997.-History:When the Major Soccer League folded in the summer of 1992, two of its former teams joined a group of hockey and basketball arena owners led by Ron Weinstein who wanted to create a league to...
.
Namdar grew up in Tehren where he played for the Iranian youth soccer team. He attended college and played soccer at Texas Tech University
Texas Tech University
Texas Tech University, often referred to as Texas Tech or TTU, is a public research university in Lubbock, Texas, United States. Established on February 10, 1923, and originally known as Texas Technological College, it is the leading institution of the Texas Tech University System and has the...
. During his college years, he tended bar in Chicago where a waitress named him "Cha Cha". In 1980, Namdar walked into an open Phoenix Inferno
Phoenix Inferno
The Phoenix Inferno was an American indoor soccer team based out of Phoenix, United States, that played in the Major Indoor Soccer League from 1980 to 1983. In 1983 new ownership renamed the team the Phoenix Pride. The Pride folded at the end of the 1983-1984 season...
tryout and received a contract from the Major Indoor Soccer League club. He played for the Inferno for two seasons before being released in 1982. He then attended an open tryout with the San Diego Sockers as it prepared for the 1982-1983 MISL season. He again received a contract and would spend two years with the Sockers. At the time, the Sockers also played during the summer in the North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
and Namdar saw time in two NASL games in 1984 before losing the remainder of the season with a knee injury. Sockers returned to the MISL after playing in the NASL indoor season in 1984-1984. Namdar remainded with the Sockers, winning several championships, until he was waived in October 1987. He signed three weeks later with the Los Angeles Lazers
Los Angeles Lazers
Los Angeles Lazers were a soccer team based out of Los Angeles that played in the Major Indoor Soccer League from 1982 to 1989.-History:Major Indoor Soccer League awarded a Los Angeles franchise to Jerry Buss on June 24, 1982. Buss had purchased the Philadelphia Fever and wanted to move it to...
. The Lazers folded in 1989 and on July 11, 1989, the St. Louis Storm
St. Louis Storm
The St. Louis Storm were a soccer team based out of St. Louis that played in the Major Indoor Soccer League. They played from 1989 to 1992. Their home arena was St...
selected Namdar in the second round of the dispersal draft. The Storm released Namdar during the pre-season and he returned to San Diego where he played in the amateur San Diego Premier Soccer League. In March 1991, Namdar signed with the Wichita Wings
Wichita Wings
This article is about the original team. For the current team, see Wichita Wings .The Wichita Wings were a professional indoor soccer franchise based in Wichita, Kansas. The Wings were admitted to the Major Indoor Soccer League as an expansion team on August 21, 1979...
. In 1993, Namdar returned to the Sockers which was now playing in the Continental Indoor Soccer League
Continental Indoor Soccer League
The Continental Indoor Soccer League was an indoor soccer league that played from 1993 to 1997.-History:When the Major Soccer League folded in the summer of 1992, two of its former teams joined a group of hockey and basketball arena owners led by Ron Weinstein who wanted to create a league to...
. He finished his career with the Sockers in 1994. His daughter, Jasmine Namdar, played soccer at the University of Arizona and with the San Diego WFC SeaLions
San Diego WFC SeaLions
San Diego WFC SeaLions is an American women’s soccer team, founded in 1988. The team is a member of the Women's Premier Soccer League, the third tier of women’s soccer in the United States and Canada...
.