Cameroon Coach Otto Pfister Insists Rigobert Song And Geremi Njitap Are Not Finished
The German gaffer insists that the two veterans still have what it takes to play for their country...
5 Apr 2009 12:42:06
Cameroon's shock 1-0 loss to Togo in a World Cup qualifying match in March has continued to spark debate in the country over the team's German coach, Otto Pfister, a popular target for the critics.
However, the much-travelled coach has come to his own defence.
In a recent television interview, Pfister blamed the shock loss to Togo in Ghana on the players for not playing to his instructions.
"They failed to play to instructions in the first half and we paid for this with a goal after just 11 minutes. That was why we were forced to make changes in both the attack and midfield in the second half," he said.
The selections of Rigobert Song and Geremi Njitap have also been widely criticised, with some insisting the players are too old and so no longer of any use to the national team.
"Song and Njitap are not old players. They are experienced players," argued Pfister.
"If some insist they are old, that would mean only two of them are old while the other nine players in the team are young.
"No one interferes with my team selection. I am responsible for my decisions. I decide who plays, who doesn't."
For the Indomitable Lions' next World Cup qualifier at home to Morocco on June 7 in Yaounde, Pfister revealed that he plans to call up young AS Monaco defender Nicolas Nkoulou and Ajax Amsterdam's Enoh Eyong Takang.
Cameroon sports minister, Edjo Augustin Thierry, has equally backed Pfister.
"It is not the coach who plays. On the pitch, the players have to take full responsibilities," said the minister.
"I did not recognise the Lions against Togo. It was only in the second half, after some changes were made, that they began to play."
Samm Audu, Goal.com
