Sporting Kansas City's Tim Melia and Cameron Duke enter the 2020 season in distinctly different positions, not just on the field but in the context of their respective careers.
Melia, 33, claimed MLS Goalkeeper of the Year honors in 2017 and has established himself as one of the best keepers in Major League Soccer. Now in his sixth year with Sporting, he has won two U.S. Open Cup titles and is an MLS Cup trophy away from ascending to legendary status in Kansas City soccer circles.
Duke, 18, starred for the Sporting KC Academy as a youngster and signed a Homegrown deal for his hometown team last summer. He has yet to make his first professional appearance, but his family lineage in the sport is strong. His father, Chris, played professionally in the late 1980s and early 1990s, while his older brother, Christian, plays for Sporting KC II and led the USL Championship side to Western Conference championships in 2016 and 2017.
In the newest episode of The Nutmeg Podcast, 610 Sports Radio host Josh Klingler caught up with both players as they wrap up the first leg of preseason training in Arizona.
Listen to the full podcast below.
Previous episodes of The Nutmeg Podcast
- Episode 101: Defender Seth Sinovic (Aug. 13, 2019)
- Episode 102: Midfielder Gianluca Busio (Aug. 27, 2019)
- Episode 103: Goalkeeper Tim Melia (Sept. 10, 2019)
- Episode 104: "Kitman" Mike Flaherty (Sept. 24, 2019)
- Episode 105: Midfielder Roger Espinoza (Oct. 8, 2019)
- Episode 106: Assistant coach Kerry Zavagnin (Oct. 22, 2019)
- Episode 107: Defender Jaylin Lindsey (Nov. 5, 2019)
- Episode 108: Chief Communications Officer Rob Thomson (Nov. 19, 2019)
- Episode 109: Manager Peter Vermes - Part 1 (Dec. 3, 2019)
- Episode 110: Manager Peter Vermes - Part 2 (Dec. 17, 2019)
- Episode 111: President & CEO Jake Reid (Jan. 3, 2019)
- Episode 201: Defender Graham Zusi (Jan. 14, 2020)
