RAPIDS FINISH PREPARATIONS FOR SEASON OPENER ON SATURDAY;
SEVERAL NEW FACES TO DEBUT FOR THE TEAM

RAPIDS FINAL TRAINING SESSION WEDNESDAY BEFORE TEAM LEAVES FOR MIAMI:

The Colorado Rapids final training session before leaving for Saturday's season opener against the Miami Fusion will be on Wednesday, April 4, at 10 a.m. Members of the media are encouraged to attend this final practice to obtain interviews and footage before the team leaves for Miami on Thursday morning.

RAPIDS LOOKING FOR FIRST WIN AT LOCKHART STADIUM AGAINST FUSION:

Saturday's match-up (5:30 p.m. [Mountain], KTVD (UPN) Ch.20) against the Miami Fusion at Lockhart Stadium marks the eighth time the Rapids have faced the Fusion (3 wins, 5 losses). The Rapids, however, have not won at Lockhart Stadium (four straight losses) since the team's inaugural season in 1998.

RAPIDS WITHOUT THE SERVICES OF JUNIOR AGOGO FOR SEASON OPENER:

The Rapids will be without the services of forward Junior Agogo for Saturday's game. Agogo will be serving a mandatory, one-game suspension for a red card received on September 24 against the 2000 MLS Cup Champion Kansas City Wizards in the third playoff game last season. Agogo was ejected for dangerous play in the 75th minute and will be required to sit out Saturday's match.

Miami's Carlos Llamosa will also miss Saturday's match for a red-card suspension for receiving a red card in D.C. United's final match of the 2000 season against, none other than, the Miami Fusion.

MANY NEW FACES ON RAPIDS TEAM TO MAKE DEBUT ON SATURDAY:

The 2001 Colorado Rapids team will make their debut in more ways than just one. Rapids head coach Tim Hankinson and assistant coach Luc Sanders will make their first appearance on the Rapids sidelines in a league match.

Scottish forward John Spencer and South African forward Neathan Gibson will also look to make their first league start for the team. The Rapids top 2001 MLS SuperDraft selection, Stephen Herdsman, will also look to make his professional debut against the Fusion. On the broadcast side, Seamus Malin, will make his debut in the Rapids' broadcast booth for the game televised on KTVD, (UPN) Channel 20.

RAPIDS' FIRST ANNUAL NATIONAL ANTHEM CONTEST BRINGS CROWD TO THEIR FEET:

The Rapids First Annual National Anthem Contest at Flatiron Crossing last Saturday was a tremendous success with six winners being awarded the privilege of singing the national anthem before a home game in 2001.

The winners were: Ben Clapham of Aurora, Leah Nauman of Denver, Jayme Fusiek of Broomfield and Sarah Leaming of Louisville (a duet), Cathleen Wright of Fort Collins, Chris Stocker of Broomfield, and J.R. Humbert of Boulder. Congratulations to all the winners. We look forward to hearing you sing!

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