PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – Trinidad and Tobago on Tuesday unveiled German Otto Pfister as its new head coach, charged with the responsibility of getting the national side to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
A former coach of Cameroon and Ghana, the 73-year-old takes over from Trinidadian Russell Latapy who was axed following T&T’s failed Digicel Caribbean Cup campaign last December.
Pfister was accompanied at Tuesday’s launch by powerful FIFA vice-president Jack Warner who is a special advisor to the T&T Football Federation and president of CONCACAF, the continental governing body for football in the North, Central America and the Caribbean.
“Football is not about history so much, for me it’s all about the new challenge I have with the Trinidad and Tobago team,” said Pfister.
“I will give all my best from my side for the qualification for the next World Cup. I know the situation but I also have to analyze in my first time here. Trinidad and Tobago went to the World Cup (in 2006) but they did not go to the Gold Cup.
“There are some reasons for that but I do not know all right now and I will find out more over the next few days. We have the work together from today. My main thing now is working, working and working … that way we have a chance.”
Pfister was selected following a screening process by the TTFF’s technical committee, from a shortlist of names that included former Dutch international Irwin Koeman and fellow countryman Johan Neeskens.
Portuguese coach Carlos Queiroz was tipped at one stage to land the job but only recently was appointed coach of Iran.
Pfister brings a wealth of experience and success to his new post. He led Togo to the 2006 World Cup in Germany when T&T made their debut and has twice featured in the African Cup of Nations final with Ghana and Cameroon respectively.
He said while he could not guarantee success for T&T, he was prepared to work hard to achieve it.
“We have to find out who from these boys are ready to play all from the heart for Trinidad and Tobago. We don’t have much time,” he stressed.
“The football is dominated in this area by United States and Mexico, all the rest fight for the third position. This is my objective from my side that I will give my best for this qualification.
“I cannot give a guarantee. No coach in the world can give a guarantee. The only guarantee I can you is with my heart and all my knowledge that I will work 24 to 24 hours for Trinidad and Tobago.”
Pfister is expected to travel to CONCACAF Gold Cup in the United States later this year to scout teams who will be T&T opponents during the 2014 World Cup qualifying campaign.
