Eric Tinkler warns Ghana pitches could hinder Asante Kotoko style

Asante Kotoko coach Eric Tinkler has warned that the condition of some football pitches in Ghana could limit the possession-based style he wants his team to play. The South African is preparing the Kumasi club for the 2026/27 Ghana Premier League season.

Tinkler said the playing conditions in Ghana have differed significantly from those he experienced in South Africa. He believes uneven or poor-quality surfaces can make it harder for a team to control matches through sustained possession and precise passing.

The former Bafana Bafana midfielder joined Kotoko in mid-July, after leaving Sekhukhune United in April. He had also previously coached Orlando Pirates, SuperSport United and Cape Town City during his career in South African football.

His new side will open its Ghana Premier League campaign away against newly promoted Debibi United on September 6. That fixture will provide Kotoko with their first competitive test under Tinkler as the club begins its campaign in Ghana’s top flight.

Despite his frustration with the pitches, Tinkler has rejected the idea of using them to justify poor performances. His message to the squad has been that the conditions are part of the environment in which Kotoko must compete, making adjustment an essential part of their preparation.

Tinkler, who was part of South Africa’s 1996 Africa Cup of Nations-winning team, now faces the task of adapting his methods while building a team capable of challenging near the top of Ghanaian football. The coach’s early work will involve balancing his preferred technical approach with the demands created by the surfaces available to his players.