Former National Under 23 defender Anthony Noreiga has returned to the USA to take part in the 2006 Adidas MLS Combine, after receiving an invitation.
He had an impressive season for George Mason University.
Noreiga, formerly of Princes Town Senior Comprehensive, was voted Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) “Defender of the Year”, by the league’s coaches.
He was among 54 US College seniors selected for the annual combine, which will be held at the Home Depot Centre in California from tomorrow and will give Noreiga the chance to impress the coaching staffs of all 12 MLS clubs.
The Combine ends five days before the 2006 MLS SuperDraft.
Last year, of the 48 players selected during the fourth round of the MLS draft, 39 had taken part in the Combine, including Kansas City Wizards’ striker, Scott Sealy, who went on to play for the T&T senior team.
“It’s a big opportunity for me and hopefully I can go there and put my best foot forward,” Noreiga said after playing a match against the Goal 2014 Under 21 team at the Ato Boldon Stadium last week.
“This season was a good one as I got selected on the All- Star team and I made it to the Combine. The main thing was to remain injury free and get in as many matches and I was happy about doing that.
“But now, I’m hoping to move on to the professional scene and aside from the MLS, there could be a couple options in Europe as well,” Noreiga added.
Noreiga was one of several US-based players at the day’s match, including Teba McKnight, Dean Logan, Osei Telesford, Stephen Cruikshank, Kyle Cupid, Daryl Roberts and Julius James, among others.