MARCELO BALBOA ON THE INJURY TO LOS ANGELES' DAN CALICHMAN

DENVER (Thursday, May 7, 1998) - Following is a statement from Colorado Rapids and U.S. National Team player Marcelo Balboa on the injury suffered by Dan Calichman of the Los Angeles Galaxy Wednesday night as a result of a collision between the two players.

Calichman, the Galaxy captain, will undergo surgery Friday morning at 7:30 a.m. PDT at St. Luke Hospital in Pasadena, CA. The defender suffered a fracture of the tibia and fibula in his right leg in the second half in Los Angeles' 7-4 win over the Colorado Rapids at the Rose Bowl Wednesday night.

Full recovery from surgery and rehabilitation is expected in four to five months.

Marcelo Balboa: "I feel very bad about the injury Dan has suffered. The play was just a fifty-fifty ball which we were both going for, and there was absolutely no malicious intent on my part at all. After the injury I didn't even want to play any more in the game, that is how terrible I felt. Dan is a great player, somebody I respect as a player and as a person, and I certainly wish him a speedy recovery and return to the field."