FRISCO - It could be a rare juxtaposition of past, present and possible future at Toyota Stadium on Saturday night.
As the Colorado Rapids visit Frisco for the first of three MLS meetings, they bring with them longtime U.S. Men’s National Team backstop Tim Howard with 118 caps since 2002, playing in some of the country’s greatest matches on the international level. But at 38 years old, Father Time is creeping in on the future Hall of Famer.
On the other side of the field is Jesse Gonzalez, fresh off his first camp with the USMNT during Gold Cup knockout round play and, possibly, the future of the program in years to come.
“It’s a hard ask when you get into National Team camp, especially as a young goalkeeper. You have to pay your dues, work hard and keep quiet and he did that,” Howard said last week of the FCD Homegrown “He’s got a bright future, he’s young, technically very gifted and athletically so if he stays the course, he’ll have a bright future. It’s tough as a - I was once there as a young National Team keeper myself and, like I said, you’ve got to pay your dues, but he’s well on his way.”
Back on the club level, it’s Howard who will try to continue FC Dallas’ current offensive drought while salvaging a season in which his Rapids have won a conference-low six games.
“At this point I’m trying to get my own self ready and get prepared and that’s a job enough at my age,” the veteran said with a laugh. “I’m always there to lend advice or help if guys need it. [At National Team] we get on the field together, we train, we learn and if they ever need anything obviously I’m there.”
Mentor and mentee just two weeks ago, they’ll be not-so friendly foes come Saturday night.