Weekly Rapids Team Notes: Hola From Spain!

VALENCIA, SPAIN (Colorado Rapids Media Update) - This week's Colorado Rapids team notes, straight from Spring Training in Valencia, Spain, for the week of March 19:

Taking in the Spanish Sights: To take a break from the Colorado Rapids' preseason training, the squad took a tour of Valencia on Sunday morning to take a closer look to the city's 'Las Fallas' celebrations. Some of the players that decided to join the tour got a closer look at the Museo de las Ciencias, which was designed by world-renowned architect Santiago Calatrava. The museum is flanked by the Palau de Les Arts Reina Sofia, which holds four indoor concert stages and opened its doors in 2005. The players and coaching staff got to experience 'La Mascletada,' a fireworks celebration that fills the entire city with the loudest explosions possible, celebrating life through noise based on the assumption that silence equals death.

Last Double Session: The Rapids will host today the team's final double session of the trip. The team will then take on Valencia CF tomorrow at 9:30pm local time at the historic Mestalla stadium. The rest of the team that does not play in the friendly game will take on Mestalla, Valencia's second division team, on Wednesday at 10:30am at the training grounds in Paterna, Spain.

A Great Opportunity: Colorado Rapids forward Jovan Kirovski, who will be starting in the friendly game against Valencia CF tomorrow, sees this game as a great opportunity for both young and veteran players to experience a match in a bigger stage. "I'm excited for this game," he said, "Our young players will be exposed to something new and with Valencia's loss over the weekend, the match will mean something for them. I'm excited to have this opportunity and be able to perform in such an environment as we'll see tomorrow."

Altitude on Location in Spain: Altitude Sports and Entertainment, in cooperation with the Colorado Rapids, have sent a TV crew to Valencia with the team that is shooting a special behind the scenes show titled "Altitude on Location." TV host Kyle Keefe is in Valencia capturing the Rapids' soccer stories as well as the human interest, culinary, and cultural aspects of the city that is hosting the Rapids. This special edition, which is expected to show the international flair that is so unique to soccer, is scheduled to air in April on Altitude.

Pablo in the US: Rapids team captain Pablo Mastroeni became the proud father of his second child. His wife Kelly gave birth to a healthy daughter named Giuliana on Wednesday, March 14.