Rapids Called Up For National Duty to Add to Mix

Bouna Coundoul, Pablo Mastroeni and Omar Cummings have all been called up for their respective national teams for international fixtures next week. Bouna will be off to Tripoli for a Senegal friendly against Libya while Cummings and Mastroeni will represent their countries in World Cup qualifiers against Canada and Guatemala respectively. The good news is that they are all expected to leave Colorado after this weekend's game against Kansas City as well as be back for next weekend's game in DC. Of course, we should be very happy that Rapids players are getting the nod for their national teams and we congratulate them for it. Given the unsettling circumstances right now, however, it may add a little more uncertainty to the team.
Gary Smith was on the unofficial DL for tonight's scrimmage with the Rapids staff so, with Fernando Clavijo in Uruguay, there were no members of the coaching staff at the game. I do have it from well connected Rapids sources though that Mike Petke and Cory Gibbs will play in central defense this weekend as part of a back four that will presumably include Erpen and Burciaga. Ugo Ihemelu appears to be struggling with the concussion from last week and looks unlikely to start. You have to feel a bit for Kosuke Kimura who surely deserves a chance in defense. Colin Clark is also out suspended and it looks as if Jacob Peterson will get his chance this weekend. It will still be interesting to see what Gary Smith puts into the mix when the team walks out this weekend.