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Togo worried by chicken-pox and cold weather
(AFP)
Updated: 2006-05-31 17:05

The inclement German weather and a chicken-pox scare have conspired to undermine Togo's FIFA World Cup? preparations.

Togo were forced to train on an artificial pitch at their training camp due to driving hail and temperatures that plummeted to 10 degrees celsius, but it was the discovery of the potentially contagious chicken-pox in the camp that has most worried the west African nation.

Striker Richard Forson, who plays for French amateur side Poire-sur-vie was the first to be struck down with the virus.

"Forson was really ill, he had a fever and was bed-ridden," said Togo's German doctor Joachim Schubert who said the player could start training again in two or three days.

"We don't yet know if the other players had chicken-pox when they were young and hence whether they have been immunised against this contagious virus," added Schubert, although none of the others have come down with the virus.

The team who are coached by German Otto Pfister play a FIFA World Cup warm-up match against Liechtenstein on 2 June before tackling France, Switzerland and South Korea in Group G when the finals begin a week later.

Togo play South Korea first on 13 June before meeting the Swiss six days later and then the 1998 champions on 23 June.