Fans took advantage of getting to know Kansas City Wizards' Head Coach Curt Onalfo and Wizards players in a more intimate setting this Wednesday when they participated in the first-ever "Latino Barnstorming Tour." The tour included three stops around the Kansas City Metropolitan area for meet and greet sessions with excited fans. English and Spanish-speaking Wizards supporters came together to meet bilingual Wizards players Kevin Hartman, Kurt Morsink and Roger Espinoza. The guys took some time out to sign autographs, mingle with fans and enjoy some of the best Mexican food in the city.
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The first stop of the tour was Alta Vista Charter School at the Guadalupe Center, where Onalfo, Espinoza, Hartman and Morsink showed off their soccer skills, signed autographs for the kids and, more importantly, spoke about the importance of staying on the right path.
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"Looking up to soccer players when I was younger made a life-lasting impression on me and I hope the kids remember this experience for the rest of their lives. We like encouraging them and giving them a sign of hope," Morsink said.
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After they worked up an appetite there, the group headed to La Fonda El Taquito Mexican restaurant in Kansas City, Mo. to meet with more fans and enjoy some Mexican food. "It is important to get out there in the community and talk with all of the soccer fans. We realize that there are a lot of English and Spanish speaking fans and we want to get to know all of them," Espinoza said.
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They tried to do so on the last stop on the tour, which included more food at El Taconazo in Kansas City, Kan. At the restaurant, Onalfo and the players spent time talking with fans about everything from their next home game to the fans' hometowns.
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After a day of mingling with fans, Espinoza wrapped up the sentiment of the event well when he said, "Everyone in Kansas City is so nice. All of the kids at the Guadalupe Center and the fans in the restaurants were so happy to see us, and that makes us even happier to be there."
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Many media members covered the event. Journalists from the Kansas City Star, Dos Mundos, KMBC Channel 9 (ABC), Univision local, La Gran D 1340 AM, La Playa 1480 AM and La Super X 1250 stopped by during various portions of the night.
