NFD outfit Vasco da Gama is currently in the process of appointing Keenin Lesch, their former midfielder, as head coach in the place of Tony de Nobrega.
Vasco’s chairman Mario das Neves, who is the brother of their technical director, Carlos, has confirmed to Soccer-Laduma that the 32-year-old will be signing a contract today (Friday).
“Keenin is seeing me this afternoon to put pen to paper,” he says. “We put some terms on the table so he must just confirm his acceptance. The club was looking for change. I don’t think our results over the past two years have been what Vasco as a group expected.
“The idea behind him rejoining us is to learn the ropes from Carlos as the pair has already worked together for many years, and his appointment is important for what the club stands for and are trying to do.”
Lesch, who spent around a decade performing wonders for Vasco, had a spell with newly-promoted Milano last season but has finally decided to hang up his boots to concentrate on coaching.
“I’ll be coaching full time,” Lesch explains. “That’s my next challenge after playing for so long. It’s something different you know, and to be going back to my old club is fantastic, a lovely feeling. On 1 July we get going with pre-season so we’ll see how it goes.”
Despite Lesch’s retirement, Vasco may opt to register him as a player. “We’re going to register him I think anyway, you never know,” concluded Das Neves.
