Pfister to sign fresh contract with Togo

German Otto Pfister, seen here in June 2006, will sign a new contract with the Togo football federation to coach the national team until 2008, the SID news agency reported.

German Otto Pfister will sign a new contract with the Togo football federation to coach the national team until 2008, the SID news agency reported.

"We have a verbal agreement," said the veteran trainer who quit the Togo team shortly before their first World Cup finals match last month in frustration over a pay dispute between players and national officials.

"I am going to meet the president of the federation next week and everything will be finalized then," the German said, adding that he would be in charge until the 2008 African Nations Cup.

The two-time Saudi Arabia coach, who at 68 was the oldest coach in the World Cup, was appointed Togo head coach in February following the sacking of Stephen Keshi.

The Nigerian was popular with players for overseeing their World Cup finals qualification but was dismissed after the team was knocked out in the first round of this year's African Nations Cup in Egypt.

Togo finished bottom of Group G in Germany after losing all three matches against South Korea, Switzerland and France, scoring just one goal and conceding six.

Pfister walked out on the Sparrowhawks early in the World Cup after players threatened a strike over unpaid bonuses.

The federation caved in to their demands and the coach was back on the bench three days later for the first match in which South Korea came from behind to win 2-1.

Pfister was critical of the behaviour of Togo officials at the tournament and vowed to sue the federation's secretary-general, Assogbavi Komlan, for defamation after Komlan accused him of being an alcoholic.

The secretary-general and three other officials later resigned.