10 Nov 2014

Senior national team assistant coach, Keitumetse ‘Pio’ Paul has confirmed his appointment as the national Under 23 coach.

In a post-match interview, Paul revealed that he was the substantive young Zebras coach while also doubling as the Zebras assistant coach. 

Paul said his appointment will ensure continuity of the excelling players from the junior ranks to the senior national team. 

He seeks to emulate or even surpass the exploits of Major David Bright’s Dream Team which boasted the likes of Musa Ohilwe, Jerome Ramtlhakwane and Thebe Maiketso amongst a host of other young Zebras who raised the blue, black and white colours of the nation high. 

Ever since Major Bright’s era, the young Zebras have been missing in action and Paul believes he is the right candidate to steer the ship to the right harbour. 

Although his team went down to a solitary goal by Orapa United’s Hendrick Moyo in a game played as part of the celebrations of Debswana’s 45^th anniversary, Paul was happy with his charges’ showing.

“They are the next Zebras and the preparations start now,” said the former Township Rollers and national team player whose ambition is to see the young Zebras transform into a formidable side.

“They played well even though I did not have all the players I had wished for since their teams are engaged in the Mascom Top 8 competition,” Paul said and added that some of his players were writing exams. 

Some of the players selected in the mould of Kago Segokgo and Mathews Moruti, both of BMC have been ascending through the ranks of the junior national teams. ENDS