

Good morning! Perry Kitchen had to travel far to find good competition when he was a kid, three hours each way from his Indianapolis home to play for the Chicago Magic, then at age 15 entering U-17 Residency in Bradenton, Florida. He went on to play for the USA at the 2009 U-17 World Cup, win the 2010 NCAA title with Akron, enjoy a 12-year pro career and earn five U.S. caps. Now back in Indiana, Kitchen is an ambassador for Hoosier Premier Academy in MLS Next. There’s much better local talent but still significant travel. What’s his advice to former pros wanting to stay involved with the game? He tells SA’s Cameron Meyer: “Find a role or club that you’re passionate about. For me, it was being local.”
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