Carlos Duke, a 16-year-old ('00) midfielder playing for the Kawasaki Frontale academy U18 team, has been registered to the J1 League professional squad effective immediately. Born in Tokyo to an American father and a Japanese mother in, Duke has been in the Frontale academy since elementary school. He impressed coaches while playing in senior reserve matches, leading to the promotion; for the time being he will continue to train mainly with the academy team. http://www.frontale.co.jp/profile/2016/mem_32.html
After reading Carlos' profile page, I feel like I know everything there is to know about him. It must have taken an eternity to give his club all those answers! His favorite color is purple. He has two older brothers. His blood type is O. The length of his baths is "long"(?!) The first CD he bought was Bruno Mars (yikes - mine was, no joke, Chumbawamba). Like Indiana Jones, he does not like snakes.
Never seen an official player profile as thorough as his. "What three items would you take to a deserted island?" "What type of woman do you prefer, cute or beautiful?" "How long are your baths?"
BTW, Carlos made the bench for the top-of-the-table clash vs. Urawa Reds this past Saturday. Looks like he was emergency depth at left back with two regulars out injured.
Carlos has been named to a U17 Japan NT team which will be staying at Bradenton from March 16-25 and play 4 friendlies (2x U17 USMNT, 1x U17 IMG Academy, 1x TBD). He is still at the Kawasaki academy and is not registered for the 1st team this season.
Carlos is in his rookie year with the pro team of Fagiano Okayama (J2). He made his professional debut in the 2nd round of the Emperor's Cup, playing the first 45 minutes against J2 rivals Machida Zelvia. http://www.jfa.jp/match/emperorscup_2018/schedule_result/pdf/m42.pdf
Interview with Carlos in the local paper. As a rare multiracial kid in the boondocks of Okayama he often gets compliments on his Japanese language ability from locals, and was once offered transit advice in English when he was lost at the train station. Carlos says he can speak enough English to communicate with his Brazilian teammate, and aspires to become as fluent as Fagiano teammate and fellow Yank Mizuki Hamada.
Duke made nine short appearances off the bench for Fagiano Okayama in 2020. For 2021, he has been loaned out to fellow J2 club Machida Zelvia.
Carlos Duke has been joined by US-born goalkeeper Anton Burns, who will formally sign with Machida for the 2022 season from Taisei High School, which is located in a nearby suburb in western Tokyo. Machida will also register him to the 2021 J2 League senior squad during his high school senior year, under a system allowing HS and college signees to join the team for training and matches right away prior to the start of their professional contracts. According to the club's scouting director, Burns joined up with Machida for this year's preseason camp. He was born in LA to an American father and a Japanese mother and moved to Tokyo before beginning elementary school.