24 Sep 2015

Extension Gunners have suspended their coach, Keitumetse 'Pio' Paul for professional misconduct.

The club's public relations officer (PRO), Keorapetse Kgasa, confirmed that Paul was suspended pending a hearing.

The PRO dismissed rumours that Paul was suspended because he had a squabble with his assistant, Oupa Kowa, over the line-up against Mochudi Centre Chiefs in Francistown on September 18.

He said Kowa was not part of preparations for the Francistown clash. According to Kgasa, Kowa was not part of the technical team as he was directed not to come to practice during the week before the game.

However, Kgasa was cagey with information as to who instructed Kowa not to pitch up for training.

“Paul’s suspension is a result of professional conduct. And we are still to meet him to clarify on the said allegations. As the management, we decided to suspend him so that we carry out investigations to find out whether the information we have is true or not,” he said. 

Kgasa remained adamant that they would not reveal what Paul did before meeting him. “Unfortunately we are still to meet him as he is out of the country on family engagements in South Africa,” he explained.

Quizzed if the management  was under pressure following two losses, Kgasa stated that the suspension had nothing to do with performance.

Kgasa said it would not be fair to suspend Paul based on the last two losses. “We have never won more than five games successively for over 20 years, it is not in our culture to put pressure on coaches because of such,” he said.

The outspoken Paul was suspended over issues of professional misconduct when he was serving as under 23 coach and acting as assistant to senior team coach, Peter Butler. 

The suspension that saw him fired from both posts, eventually landing a job at Extension Gunners.

Paul was not available for comment as his phone was not available. Ends