18 Aug 2021

National Under-20 head coach Keitumetse ‘Pio’ Paul was laid to rest at Phakalane’s Phomolong cemetery in Gaborone today (Wednesday).

Different speakers took turns to eulogise Paul, whom most described as a loving family man, with a strong personality.

Paul was born in Gaborone 48 years ago and did both his primary and secondary education in Gaborone. 

He attended coaching studies in United States of America and United Kingdom.

Having started his football career in the early 1990’s, Paul played for a number of local football teams, amongst them Township Rollers and Mochudi Centre Chiefs as well as the national team.

Paul was the current coach of the national Under 20 team and Security Systems.

Paul’s friend, Davis Kopi described him as a winner as well as a fighter, adding that he produced positive results in everything he took part in.

Kopi said his friend did not shy away from voicing his views, indicating that he stood for what he believed in. “He lived his dream with passion,” he said.

His uncle, Cyprian Selaledi said Paul’s death was a great loss not only to his family but the nation at large, noting that a lot was still expected from him.

Selaledi indicated that Paul believed in the truth and wanted everything to be done in the right way, which irked some people.

One of the speakers, Patrick Hirschfeldt noted that Paul was a loving, truthful and respectful individual, who could not be easily derailed on his plans.

He said Paul married at a young age of 29 and had a vision of a bright future.

In his message, BFA President Maclean Letshwiti said Paul was a coach with great potential to become the best in the local industry.

Letshwiti said Paul was largely misconstrued, adding that he never suppressed his view. 

“I had accepted his strong personality and lived with it,” he added.

Paul, he said, was a believer in his craft and had a tactical approach to the game. He highlighted that Paul was important to BFA and the general football development in Botswana.

He highlighted that Paul was an inspiration to local coaches who wished to go as far as he did in terms of coaching academics. Paul succumbed to COVID - 19 complications last Friday. ends