Asante Kotoko have completed a two-week training camp in Accra and returned to Kumasi, where their preparations for the 2026/27 Ghana Premier League season will continue with a high-profile meeting against Hearts of Oak.
The Porcupine Warriors used their time in the capital to develop fitness, improve the players’ understanding of new head coach Eric Tinkler’s tactical methods and build match sharpness through a series of friendly fixtures.
Kotoko finished the camp with a narrow 1-0 victory over Semper Fi. That result came after another 1-0 success against Heart of Lions earlier in the pre-season programme, giving Tinkler some encouraging early evidence as he works to reshape the side.
However, the South African coach will know that friendly results offer only limited conclusions and that significant work remains before the start of competitive football. The camp was designed to establish a stronger foundation, but Kotoko must now continue refining their approach and addressing any weaknesses identified during the matches.
Tinkler was appointed in July as part of a broad restructuring of Asante Kotoko’s technical and football operations. His arrival followed a disappointing 2025/26 campaign, and he has been tasked with building a team capable of competing more consistently at the top level of Ghanaian football.
The club have also made changes away from the touchline. Former Netherlands and Ajax goalkeeper Stanley Menzo has been appointed Director of Football, strengthening the administrative structure around the first team.
Those appointments form part of Kotoko’s wider effort to restore the club’s standing in the domestic game. The Kumasi-based side will now have the opportunity to measure their progress in a significant pre-season fixture against one of their biggest rivals.
Kotoko are due to face Hearts of Oak in the Democracy Cup on Friday, 28 August, at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium. The encounter will give Tinkler another chance to assess his squad in a competitive atmosphere, experiment with different tactical options and determine which areas still need attention.
It will also offer supporters an initial opportunity to see the new-look Kotoko side in action before the league campaign begins. The fixture is expected to attract considerable interest because of the rivalry between the two clubs, even though it is being played as part of their preparations for the new season.
Asante Kotoko will begin their 2026/27 Ghana Premier League campaign away from home against newly promoted Debibi United.
The Porcupine Warriors will hope the work completed in Accra, along with the further preparations in Kumasi, can help them make a strong start. After the frustrations of last season, the club’s immediate aim is to turn the changes made in the technical and football departments into improved performances and a serious challenge in the new campaign.
