Commerce City, Colo. – It might be the offseason for the players, but the coaching staff is still at work.

This weekend, technical director Paul Bravo is scouting players in Accra, Ghana.

“Our philosophy as a club is no stone goes unturned,” said Bravo before departing. “You have to look in places where you think you might be able to find pieces that might fit with what you are doing.”

Bravo’s visit to Africa marks the fourth country – outside of the U.S. – that the staff has traveled to in search of potential players. Head coach Gary Smith recently returned from a trip to England, where he also had the opportunity to seek out prospective players.

“We went to Scandinavia back in October,” Bravo said of his visits to Denmark and Sweden. “You’re always preparing one and two windows ahead to see what’s going on.”

In Ghana, Bravo will have a chance to look at players from across Africa.

“It’s a combine, so to speak,” said Bravo. “A lot of professional players, youth national team players, and then there are players from outside of Ghana and other West African countries like Gambia, Senegal, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, and Sierria Leone.

“West African countries in general, they’ve got players playing all over the world. They have a lot of young players that move into Scandinavia and then from there make the move into bigger leagues. There is no reason why West Africa shouldn’t be on our radar as far as discoveries.”

Bravo says the staff has identified some players that will be at the combine, but the club is also hoping to observe other players that may be available.

“You never know what you’re going to find,” he said. “We are going there specifically to try and find young talent that can add depth to the group. There are a number of players that we’ve already done some research on. Mostly guys that are playing in the 17’s and the 20’s on their national teams.”

The Rapids currently have two players from that region that have been on their national team’s radar. Newly acquired midfielder Sanna Nyassi has already debuted for the Gambia national team and forward Mac Kandji has been courted by both the Gambia and Senegal national teams but has yet to play internationally.

“Flank players with pace, forwards with power and pace, those are positions that we are open minded to when we go to places like this,” said Bravo. “But certainly the region is rich with talent and we’re looking to add and strengthen the group.”

With MLS rosters expanding to 30 players next season and the Rapids holding six open international slots, the space to add international players is there for 2011.

“We’ll go there with an open mind and see if we can find someone that might be able to help us,” said Bravo. "That is the reason for going over there, to see what’s there and maybe make some contacts along the way that we can nurture and grow.”