Carpinteria’s Johnny Requejo has been named to the U.S. men’s national under-17 team that will play in the U-17 World Cup regional qualifying tournament next week in Panama.
Requejo, who as a freshman led Carpinteria High to the CIF Finals in 2011, has been in the U.S. Under-17 Residency Program in Bradenton, Fla. for the past two years.
A left-sided defender, he is one of two on the 20-player roster who played in all 24 international matches for the Americans last year. The other is fellow defender Shaquelle Moore, who was named the team captain.
The CONCACAF U-17 Championships consists of four groups of three teams each, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the quarterfinals. The USA is in Group C with Haiti and Guatemala. Group A includes Panama, Barbados and Jamaica. Group B consists of Canada, Costa Rica and Trinidad & Tobago. Group D is comprised of Mexico, Honduras and Cuba. The tournament’s four semifinalists will qualify for the 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates from Oct. 17-Nov. 8.
The U.S. opens against Haiti on Sunday. The game will be televised live at 3:30 p.m. on the Fox Soccer Channel. The Americans will next play Guatemala on April 11.
The U.S. is looking to qualify for its 15th straight U-17 World Cup.
The American roster consists of 19 players who are members of the U-17 Residency Program. The only player not part of the program is midfielder Joel Sonora, who plays for Boca Juniors in Argentina and is the son of three-time MLS All-Star Diego Sonora.
Besides Requejo, there are three other Californians on the team: midfielders Corey Baird (Escondido), Angel Heredia (San Jose) and Elijah Martin (Fresno).
VOM STEEG IN U.S. CAMP
Justin Vom Steeg, a sophomore at San Marcos High, was invited to a national training camp for players who represent the core age group that will be competing for spots on the U.S. team for the 2017 FIFA Under-20 World Cup.
The camp consisted of 24 players from all over the country born in 1997. Vom Steeg, the oldest son of UCSB men’s soccer coach Tim Vom Steeg, was one of two goalkeepers selected to the camp.
U.S. Soccer Technical Advisors Brian Johnson and Carson Porter ran the camp. After evaluations, a team of 18 players will be selected to compete for the 97s at the 2013 Caspian Cup this May in Azerbaijan.
GAUCHOS LOSE RECRUIT
Ben Spencer, who committed to play for UCSB this fall, signed a professional contract with the Norwegian professional club Molde.
Spencer, a 6-5 forward played in the Real Salt Lake and Chivas USA academy programs, had a trial with Molde before Christmas break and spent the preseason with the club before signing after turning 18.
Molde has won the last two top division titles in Norway.
