Dynamo Academy forward Isaiah Noreiga was set to be named to the Trinidad & Tobago U-17 national team squad for the upcoming Caribbean Football Union U-17 qualifying tournament, Trinidad & Tobago's Newsday reported this morning, but he is likely to miss out due to a back injury, Dynamo Director of Youth Development James Clarkson told HoustonDynamo.com this afternoon.
Noreiga (Humble Kingwood Park) turned 16 in March and has become one of the Dynamo's brightest youth prospects over the last two years. He played for the Dynamo in the U-19 age bracket of the Dallas Cup in 2009 at the age of 15 and played twice for the U-18s in USSF Development Academy play last year.
In his own age group, he scored four goals and a decisive penalty kick to lead the Dynamo to the U-16 title at the 2010 Dallas Cup and notched a goal and an assist in four matches at the 2010 SUM U-17 Cup, helping Houston to the semifinals. In USSF regular season play for the Dynamo Academy U-16s in 2009-10, Noreiga scored four goals in 17 games to rank third on the team.
WATCH: Noreiga scores Houston's second goal in 3-0 win vs. Toronto FC
Trinidad & Tobago will face St. Kitts & Nevis on Wednesday, Cuba on Friday, and Bermuda on Sunday in one of two four-team groups to determine which teams advance to next year's CONCACAF qualifying tournament for the 2011 FIFA U-17 World Cup. The matches in Group E will take place at Marvin Lee Stadium in Macoya, Trinidad & Tobago. The top two teams in each group and the best third-place team, for a total of five teams, will advance to the 12-team CONCACAF tournament. Interested fans can follow the action at CONCACAF.com.
Noreiga will rejoin the Dynamo Academy for the fall season and, once he recovers from his injury, remains eligible to play for either the U-16 or U-18 squad in USSF play in 2010-11.
