Asante Kotoko coach Eric Tinkler says he is prepared for the intense scrutiny that comes with leading one of Ghana’s biggest clubs as he gets ready for his first Ghana Premier League season.
The South African says his experience of managing high-profile fixtures and working under demanding expectations has equipped him for the challenge at the Porcupine Warriors.
Tinkler, 56, has previously coached South African clubs Cape Town City and Sekhukhune United. He also has extensive experience of the country’s biggest derby, including matches involving Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs.
“I thrive under pressure, to be honest. As I said, I have been involved in big derbies like Orlando Pirates against Kaizer Chiefs,” he told the club’s media.
“I was involved in those games for a number of years, with big crowds and big expectations from both the Chiefs and Pirates fans, so it’s going to be no different.”
The former coach believes the pressure surrounding Asante Kotoko should not be transferred directly to his players. Instead, he intends to draw on his previous experience to help them remain confident and focused before and during matches.
“I need to take that experience and knowledge and pass it on to the players and take the pressure off them. You can’t go into a game with a fear of losing.”
Tinkler wants his side to produce football that matches the expectations of supporters, while ensuring the players are able to perform without being constrained by anxiety.
He said the team’s responsibility would extend beyond those inside the stadium, with supporters also following the club through radio and television coverage.
“I want to put on a good performance, a good spectacle obviously for the fans in the stadium and the millions who are going to listen to it on radio and watch it on TV, and the players will have to go and play with freedom and without fear.”
The coach’s first competitive league fixture will come away from home against newly promoted Debibi United, when Asante Kotoko begin their 2026-27 Ghana Premier League campaign.
That match will provide Tinkler with his first opportunity to lead the club in a Ghana Premier League fixture, following his appointment to take charge of one of Ghana’s most prominent teams.
His preparations have therefore centred not only on the tactical demands of the league, but also on managing the expectations that accompany the Asante Kotoko job. Tinkler’s message is that pressure should be accepted as part of the role rather than treated as an obstacle.
The coach says his previous involvement in major South African derbies, played before large crowds and under close attention from both sets of supporters, has given him the perspective needed for the new challenge.
For Asante Kotoko, the opening match at Debibi United will mark the beginning of a new Ghana Premier League campaign and the start of Tinkler’s first season in competitive charge.
