‘PIO WAS WHAT THE DOCTOR PRESCRIBED’
Premier League side, Security Systems says it was a difficult decision to appoint the late Keitumetse ‘Pio’ Paul as the head coach because of his previous legal tussles with former employers, but in the end they realised that they got the man they wanted when he changed the football culture at the club. Paul passed on three days ago due to COVID-19 related complications
It was a very difficult decision to appoint the late Keitumetse ‘Pio’ Paul as head coach for Security Systems, the club says.
There was a big decision to make after Daniel “Chicco” Nare left on the back of a very successful 2019/2020 season as the club finished in its highest ever position, at fourth in the league and just two points behind winners, Jwaneng Galaxy.
Amongst the names considered for the vacancy were Philemon Makwengwe, Rapelang ‘Raizor’ Tsatsilebe, Wire Kaelo and Paul.
It was Paul’s name that rubbed on the shoulders wrongly among many within the Systems’ top brass. The reason was the late coach’s documented history with clubs at Labour offices and within the corridors.
Speaking to Sport Monitor, Systems’ public relations officer, Zolani Kraai said the decision to call Paul for an interview nearly tore the management apart.
“A lot of names came up, everyone wanted a different coach. But only a few recommended Pio. The office was so divided over even calling him for an interview gotwe o dingalo (saying he is stubborn). Eventually he came in for the interview.
He impressed the interview panel; he blatantly told the management what kind of person he was, in the best way you would imagine Pio would have. He outlined his demands very well and that is when he got the job,” Kraai said. Paul was appointed on a one-year contract but he never got the opportunity to lead the team in official matches due to the cancellation of the 2020/2021 football season.
He renewed his contract with the club for a further year last month. Kraai also said the late coach had changed the football culture at the club and introduced a more positive style of play.
“We have always been a defensive team, Pio introduced total football. He wanted to change the culture in the team. He had just renewed his contract last month. The reason why we stuck with him was his beliefs of the game.
He wanted to play attacking football while introducing youngsters in the senior team. Our club president believes in the promotion of young players into the senior team. He has always wanted to see young players being promoted. And in Pio Paul we had that guy. Players were enjoying his methods and you could see in training that the scenery has changed a lot.
It’s a great loss for us because Pio changed the atmosphere here and he was already doing a very good job,” Kraai said. Paul passed away on Friday due to COVID-19 related complications, aged 48.
He has coached amongst others Extension Gunners, Notwane, Sharps Shooting Stars and he was the national Under-20 head coach.