D.C. United declines their option on Syamsir Alam

D.C. United announced today that they have declined their option to purchase Syamsir Alam, who has been on loan to the team from C.S. Vise in the Belgian Second Division. C.S. Vise is owned by the Bakrie Group, who are partners with Erick Thohir in his purchase of Inter Milan. He returns to Belgium having not featured in any competitive matches for the team and returns to a team that is currently in last place in the Belgian Second Division. Syamsir's release also frees an international roster spot for the team for next season.

The signing of Syamsir Alam seemed like a favor to new owner Erick Thohir from the very beginning, and his lack of playing time throughout D.C. United's worst ever season confirms that fact that he was not ready to play at this level. The fact that he could not make the roster for the Indonesian U-23 team for the Southeast Asian Games after leaving United for months only further compounds that fact. I wish Syamsir well in his future endeavors, but hope that a similar signing will not be made going forward.