Schaefer does not think he will coach Togo

By Staff
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Google Oneindia News

ULM, Germany, June 12 (Reuters) Coach Winfried Schaefer did not think on today that Togo would be able to meet his conditions to step in as coach during their debut World Cup finals.

''I don't think there will be an agreement,'' Schaefer told Reuters in a telephone interview. ''They don't seem to be able to agree among themselves and I cannot work unless there is order.'' Togo, helped by their sponsors Puma, called on ex-Cameroon coach Schaefer to take charge of their team during the World Cup after Otto Pfister walked out, saying he could not do his job with a pay dispute between officials and players not sorted.

''It is important that the boys get their money,'' Schaefer said. ''They have not laughed in weeks and they just cannot play like that.'' Schaefer has set a clear deadline for Monday, saying that the deal would be off if Togo did not contact him by then.

PERMANENT BASIS Togolese officials, however, say they will not jump the gun on their decision and have invited the German to watch tomorrow's game as a guest.

''I will not come as a guest and sit in the stands because I cannot have any influence from there,'' said Schaefer, who last led a Dubai side to the United Arab Emirates title this year.

Schaefer said he was simply out to help and has made clear he would only take the job for the world's biggest sporting event, on a temporary basis.

''I got the impression the assistant coach was not too happy,'' Schaefer said. ''I don't want to steal his show, he can take all the glory ... but Korea was in Dubai not long ago and so I think I can help them.'' On Saturday, just after Pfister quit, assistant Kodjovi Mawuena was promoted to the hot seat, a familiar position for him as he had come to the rescue three times before when previous coaches walked out.

Togolese players have demanded 155,000 euros (196,200 dollar) each to play in the World Cup plus 30,000 each per win and 15,000 per draw.

Officials from a country with average per capita income well below 1,000 dollar said that was too much and remained non-committal yesterday, simply reiterating that talks were progressing.

Schaefer said he was confident the team would play even if an agreement over the pay was not found, echoing comments from leading player Emmanuel Adebayor yesterday.

Despite of the chaos, Togo still stood a chance to beat South Korea, Schaefer said.

''It's not like they (the South Koreans) are an Ueber-team, the Togolese might win anyway tomorrow.'' Togo play their first World Cup match against South Korea tomorrow. The other teams in Group G are Switzerland and France.

REUTERS PDS RS1742

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