With only 10 days to the start of another FIFA soccer world cup in Germany, Togolese national team players have threatened not to lace their boots for their country unless they are paid the fantastic sum of $200,000 each as appearance fee, $40,000 per win and $20,000 for a draw.

Wonders shall never end! First these bunch of mediocre players rather than thank God for giving them a once in a lifetime chance of reaching the world cup fired steven Keshi after taking them beyond their wildest dreams! Next they want to be paid heaven and earth for a competition they were never dreaming of ever reaching! Was the world cup ticket part of their initial plans?
Not to worry Gnasingbe, take a cue from Egypt 2006, this set of players can't win a single game or a play a draw. They should demand money for each goal scored because they are not likely to score a single one!

At $200,000 each, that comes to $4.6m for the entire team of 23 just for appearing at the world cup! Keep in mind that Togo's entire national budget for the yr 2005 was a paltry $29m! How much would each brazilian player demand for appearing at the same championship?
Is it not funny that players that make such ridiculous demands are african players who need the world cup exposure ten times more than their european and brazilian counterparts? Even if Wayne Rooney does not play at this world cup, he is still guaranteed first team action in Man Utd, same cannot be said for players from Africa who mainly play to attract better contracts from big clubs. I think the problem with the togo players is that of poverty and illiteracy. They know this is their last chance of ever appearing at the world cup or even getting their hands on such a huge sum of money so they are trying to milk their poor country for all its worth! They made the same demands and almost refused to play at Egypt 2006 until their president had to personally intervene, what was their achievement? Not even a draw againts lowly rated congo DRC!

Welcome to the long road to soccer oblivion!