Script: /Oliver_Hinz/blog/cat/togo
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    Time to make friends

    Monday, June 19, 2006, 06:17 AM EST [Togo]

    Swiss and togolese fans, Foto: Hinz

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     The slogan "a time to make friends" couldn't be more true here on the train to Dortmund where Switzerland and Togo are about to play their second group game. Whereever the few Togolese fans go they have a warm welcome. Even on the Basel IC Express train to Dortmund where Swiss fans have been standing in for hours (it was packed). Fans united. These are the images we want to see. In fact, a lot of Germans sympathize with the African teams too. I've never seen so many white Africans. On the pitch both teams will go for the win, especially after yesterday's draw France and South Korea. All four teams can still make it to the next round. The game has been in jeopardy though as the Togo players went on strike again to demand more bonus money. German coach Otto Pfister was waiting for them in the hotel lobby ready to go to Dortmund. FIFA intervened and with delay of two hours the team started their trip to the Westfalen. Last week it was Pfister himself provided for a major upset in the Togolese team when he quit the coaching job after players missed a training session because of their strike. Pfister recalled his decision a day later later. Some things go terribly wrong these days in that team...

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