Asante Kotoko head coach Eric Tinkler says the condition of football pitches in Ghana is making it harder for his side to develop a possession-based style of play.
The South African spoke after Kotoko’s 1-0 pre-season victory over Kpando Heart of Lions at the University of Ghana Stadium, where he expressed concern about the playing conditions facing his team.
Tinkler was appointed Asante Kotoko head coach earlier this offseason and said the standard of pitches in Ghana was markedly different from what he had experienced in South Africa.
“It hasn’t been easy obviously; conditions are very different from what you find in South Africa,” Tinkler told the press.
The former South Africa international said uneven or poor-quality surfaces create an additional challenge for players, particularly for a team attempting to control matches through possession.
“As you are well aware, the standard of the pitches are not great, which obviously makes it much harder for the players,” he said.
“We want to try and play a possession-based game and on pitches like this, it becomes very, very difficult.”
Tinkler’s comments came during a period in which he is attempting to rebuild Asante Kotoko following a disappointing 2025/26 Ghana Premier League campaign. The club finished eighth in the league last season, leaving the new coach with the task of improving the team’s performances and establishing a clear playing identity.
Although he highlighted the difficulties presented by the pitches, Tinkler insisted that the conditions could not be allowed to become an excuse for his side. Instead, he said his players and coaching staff had to adjust to the circumstances in which they were operating.
“What we can’t do is use it as an excuse. It’s our reality and we have to adapt,” he added.
The victory over Kpando Heart of Lions provided Asante Kotoko with a winning result during pre-season, but Tinkler’s remarks showed the practical problems involved in implementing his preferred approach.
A possession-based game depends on players being able to move the ball accurately and consistently, while the condition of the playing surface can make that more difficult. Tinkler therefore faces the challenge of balancing his tactical intentions with the conditions available to his squad in Ghana.
The coach’s immediate focus is on preparing Asante Kotoko for the new season and guiding the club away from the difficulties that contributed to their eighth-place finish in the 2025/26 Ghana Premier League. While he remains concerned about the pitches, he has made clear that his team must find solutions rather than rely on the playing conditions as a reason for underperformance.
