Christiaens injury paves way for maiden Azkals call-up for Global teenager Daisuke Sato

By Karlo Sacamos

THE Philippine men’s football team saw a last-minute change in the roster for the two friendlies in Qatar next week.
Global FC’s Daisuke Sato has replaced injured club teammate Jeffrey Christiaens (foot) a day before the Azkals fly to Doha where they will face Nepal’s national team on Saturday then Qatari club Al-Ahli three days later.
Global coach Leigh Manson justified the inclusion of the 19-year-old Filipino-Japanese winger, who has scored in the last two games for the United Football League leader.
“He is in good form,” the Scottish mentor said on Monday. “At the club level, Sato is young, but is keen to learn and gives one hundred percent in training.”
The call-up came exactly a month after Sato was unveiled as one of Global’s recruits in the transfer window, making the promising booter the third new national team addition along with club teammates Charlie Pettys and Curt Dizon.
“I’m very proud of all our players who get called up,” said Manson, whose team has the most call-ups with six with Jason de Jong, Amani Aguinaldo, and Mark Hartmann also in the fold of the 22-man roster.

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