Togo puts trust in German coach

Lome (Togo): Otto Pfister's goal as coach of Togo is the same as the other 31 men coaching a team at the World Cup.

He wants to win.

The fans in Togo, however, think the German is more than just a coach.

They call him a "witch doctor" and a "miracle maestro," and they hope he can make some magic in Germany.

The Sparrow Hawks will be playing in their first World Cup, and will face France, Switzerland and South Korea in the first round.

Pfister, who replaced Stephen Keshi in March, will be expecting a better showing than the one the team put forth earlier this year in Egypt, when Togo lost to Cameroon, Congo and Angola in the first round of the African Cup of Nations.

"We will put up a better performance against South Korea at the World Cup," Pfister said.

"I accepted the challenging job as national coach at this difficult period to win for Togo. Not to lose."

Togo plays its opening World Cup match against the 2002 semi-finalists on June 13, then faces Switzerland and later France.

And Togolese fans are optimistic.

"Coach Otto Pfister is a soccer witch doctor who will work wonders during the World Cup," fan John Koutobetey said.

"Coach Pfister is a miracle maestro," said Gaga Tsibiakou, a driver in Lome. "I believe that he will put the smiles back on our sad faces."

Togo soccer federation chairman Rock Gnassingbe said Pfister plans to have his team ready for a friendly against Saudi Arabia on Sunday.

"Despite our failures at the African Cup, we are engaged in the task of reconstructing a new purposeful and winsome national team capable of bringing glory to Togo and Africa at the World Cup," Gnassingbe said.

Gnassingbe blamed Togo's poor showing at the African Cup on the previous coach's "poor handling of some of the players."

Keshi reportedly argued with star player Emmanuel Adebayor during the African Cup matches.

Adebayor, who plays for Arsenal, will be an important member of Pfister's team, however.

Toure Sheriff of France's Metz is also expected to be a key player, and the streets of Lome are full of the names of players in Europe - including Yoan Folly and Dossevi Thomas - who Pfister may choose on his final roster.