Former Togo soccer coach Otto Pfister says his abrupt resignation just three days before the World Cup opener with South Korea was because he was stripped of his coaching duties.

In an interview with KBS Saturday, he said no one could control the players after they refused to attend practice over a pay dispute, adding he will definitely not coach Tuesday's game.

The Togolese, however, have resumed training under assistant coach Kodjovi Mawuena, including leading forward Emmanuel Adebayor, who was rumored to have quit with Pfister.