Toronto FC’s players battled the heat as they trained in Oakville on Thursday morning getting set to face Colorado Rapids at BMO Field on Saturday at 12:00 p.m. live on CBC. The Reds returned to the pitch after spending Wednesday’s training session in the gym and running by the lake shore.

Preki Preki Coach Preki spent three years as coach of Chivas USA in Los Angeles, but has still been feeling the heat this week. “It is a different type of weather in California because it can be very warm but never really so humid,” he said. “Here we are dealing with the high temperature and also the high humidity. That is why we have been trying to manage things a little bit differently and save our legs for Saturday.”

[inline_node:3618]“It has been hard for the players but they have been reacting well. We have been trying to work hard for short periods of time and keep the energy level pretty high,” the coach explained.

For Reds captain Dwayne De Rosario, the heat is nothing new having joined Toronto from Houston. “This definitely reminds me of my time in Houston. The main thing is to remain hydrated, not only on the pitch but at home as well. Obviously training is very draining and sometimes you lose your breath, but I stressed to these guys about how demanding it is playing in this kind of heat. Thankfully we have had a good solid week of training and everyone is looking forward to Saturday.”

Julian de Guzman played in Spain’s La Liga for three years but has found it difficult training with the heat wave in Ontario this week. “It’s been very tough,” he said. “It got this hot in Spain, but usually the games are later. There we were used to playing at 9 or 10 at night and 5 o’clock at the earliest. So it will be difficult for the guys here playing at midday on Saturday.”

Toronto’s final training session ahead of the Colorado match will be on Friday morning at Cherry Beach.