VietNamNet Bridge – Binh Duong Football Club is applying for Vietnamese citizenship for its key Brazilian striker Kesley, said the club’s Managing Director Tran Van Duong.

Brazilian striker Kesley Alves

After helping Binh Duong to protect its V-League championship, Kesley’s contract was extended for two years more. The club also wants to turn this Brazilian player into a Vietnamese citizen in the next football season.

Duong said the club is waiting for necessary documents from Kesley, which will be submitted to the Department of Justice of Binh Duong province.

“If Kesley is granted Vietnamese citizenship, in the next football season, Binh Duong will employ one more foreign player and Kesley will have a chance to become a member of the national squad like goalkeeper Santos of Dong Tam Long An,” Duong said.

Kesley, 27, has played football in Vietnam for four seasons in the jerseys of Binh Duong and Hoang Anh Gia Lai.

He experienced a lot of success with Binh Duong. He was the top scorer with 21 goals in his first year in Vietnam. After that he moved to Hoang Anh Gia Lai and married a Vietnamese girl in HCM City. Kesley went downhill when he played for Hoang Anh Gia Lai but after he returned to Binh Duong he quickly began performing well again.

In news related to Binh Duong club, this team has signed a two-year contract with a Portuguese coach, Vital, who had just left East Asia Bank club.

The mission of Vital is protecting Binh Duong’s V-League championship in the next football season and leading the team to success at the AFC Champions League 2009.

The new coach will meet his team in early October to prepare for the Binh Duong TV Cup tournament in late 11.

(Source: VNE)