COLORADO GAINS ANOTHER MOUNTAIN

Versatile Swiss star Shkelzen Gashi, named for an Albanian mountain, raises the offensive quality of play of the Rapids, says coach Pablo Mastroeni.

commerce city » Shkelzen Gashi has been in Denver only a fewdays, but the newest addition to the Rapids’ offensive attack actually acquired his first souvenir last year.

Albanian by descent, Gashi was born in Switzerland and grew up there. A friend of his Gashi came to Colorado for the world alpine ski championships at Beaver Creek last year and brought back a Broncos hat for Gashi. It had Gashi’s name on it and the number 11.

“I looked at it recently and said, ‘ It’s funny how life works out,’ ” said Gashi, nowthe new No. 11 for the Rapids.

The Rapids, who open a new season of MLS play Sunday at San Jose, acquired Gashi last month to improve an anemic attack that finished last in scoring last season. They are hoping he and Kevin Doyle — their other highpriced “designated player”— can give the attack more firepower. Doyle, an Irish international, joined the team late last spring.

Gashi, a proven goal scorer in Switzerland, is a natural winger who can play striker if needed. In a 3- 0 victory over Arizona United lastweek that concluded the Rapids’ preseason schedule, Gashi scored and assisted on a goal by Doyle

“I will play wherever the coach puts me, but of course I would like to play on the outside,” Gashi said Tuesday in his first Rapids media appearance. “I’ve studied the way Kevin plays, and I think the first real game we had against Arizona was a pretty good sign of what’s to come.”

Coach Pablo Mastroeni has been impressed by Gashi in the 10 days he has been with the team.

“His ability to strike from distance has been fantastic, ( and) his awareness of the game, to make the players around him better,” Mastroeni said. “When you bring in quality players, they raise the bar for everyone around them.”

Gashi is named after a 7,900- foot mountain in Albania located near the border with Kosovo. His parents moved to Switzerland before he was born when his father got a job as a chef. Gashi was born in Zurich.

Like Denver, Zurich is a big city close to some of theworld’s great ski resorts, although Gashi isn’t a big fan of ski racing. He says Denver is much bigger than he expected, but he has enjoyed what he has seen in the few days he’s been here.

“I’m very happy to be here,” Gashi said. “The city and the people have been fantastic so far. I’m excited to get started on Sunday.”