Togo bonus row branded a national disgrace

LOME, June 12 (Reuters) Togo's media voiced shame over the team's demands for hefty bonus payments at the World Cup, with one newspaper branding the row ''a national disgrace''.

The West Africans, who make their tournament debut against Group G rivals South Korea in Frankfurt tomorrow, are without a coach after German Otto Pfister walked out last week, saying the much-publicised pay dispute had made his job impossible.

His possible replacement, former Cameroon coach Winfried Schaefer, said today he did not think he would take the job.

''Togo's Participation in 2006 World Cup: A National Disgrace,'' headlined newspaper The People's Struggle, saying the demands of the players were unrealistic given the country's economic plight.

''The Togolese have shown their defects to the whole world,'' the newspaper wrote, adding they were the only team to have marred the tournament with financial demands.

Togolese players demanded 155,000 euros (192,200 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 talks stalled.

In contrast to this year's African Nations Cup when the ''Hawks'' failed to win a point, soccer fever has steadily drained from the streets of Togo's capital Lome.

''One would say our country is cursed. We always wait until the last minute to create problems,'' said Charles Anani, a bar owner who installed a big screen television to watch the games.

''I am very indignant and it is regrettable for our country.

For the first time, we have the opportunity to participate in the World Cup and we ruin that honour because of personal interests,'' said Patricia Da, who sells cloth.

Da said the team should be sent home and the players forced to pay a fine to soccer's ruling body FIFA.

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