WEST DES MOINES, Iowa – April 28, 2010 – Alberto Garcia Aspe, a former captain for the Mexican national team, will make a special guest appearance as part of the Des Moines Menace’s 2010 Opening Night festivities on Saturday, May 8 at Valley Stadium.

Garcia Aspe played 14 seasons for his country (1988-2002) and was a six-time captain. He made 109 international appearances and played in the 1994, 1998 and 2002 FIFA World Cups. A midfielder, he scored 21 goals, including a goal in each of his first two World Cups.

The Menace will introduce Garcia Aspe at halftime of a 5 p.m. International League match. He will sign autographs from approximately 5:45 until 7 o’clock. The special guest will present the game ball for the Menace’s match against Drake University – a 7:30 exhibition that follows the 5 p.m. match between Comunicaciones and Berlines.

Soccer fans will have a couple other opportunities to meet the former Mexican national team star. Garcia Aspe will make appearances at a pair of Kum & Go stores that same day:

-       11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at Kum & Go store No. 115 (1115 Highway 141 in Perry)

-       2 p.m.-3:30 p.m. at Kum & Go store No. 4110 (2110 Guthrie Avenue in Des Moines)

In this story, FIFA.com referred to our guest as “a committed player with an exquisite left foot” and “a symbolic feature in Mexican football.”

A native of Mexico City, Garcia Aspe is a commentator for Telivisa, preparing for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, which is less than 50 days away.

Aspe’s appearances are presented by Kum & Go and Coca-Cola.