The newest trialist hoping to impress the Colorado Rapids coaching staff is Honduran forward Walter 'Pery' Martinez, who joined the team in Tucson, Ariz. on Sunday night. Martinez, a forward on Honduras's 2010 World Cup squad, was most recently playing with Chongqing F.C. in China.
The 30-year-old made his professional debut with Honduran club Victoria in 2001, and also played with Vida and Marathón in his country before moving to Chinese first-division club Guoan in 2007. He also played with Spanish second-division side Deportivo Alavés and returned temporarily to Marathón in between his two stints at Guoan. At the 2010 World Cup, Martinez started against eventual champions, Spain, and came on as a substitute against Chile and Switzerland.
MORE: Rapids players arrive in Tucson for preseason matches
Also joining the Rapids in Tucson are Brenton Griffiths and Marcello Castro, two players selected by the Rapids in last week's MLS Supplemental Draft. The other two supplemental draftees, Machael David and Stefano Pinho, will join the team in Colorado after the Arizona portion of preseason.
The Rapids are participating in the Desert Friendlies, a preseason tournament presented by FC Tucson. Colorado will face the Portland Timbers on Tue., Jan. 29 (11 am MT), the Houston Dynamo on Thurs., Jan. 31 (6 pm MT), and the San Jose Earthquakes on Sat., Feb. 2 (11 MT). All training sessions and matches will be held at the Kino Sports Complex in Tucson.
