FC AshGold 04 head coach Karim Zito has told Asante Kotoko manager Eric Tinkler to accept the realities of Ghanaian football after the South African raised concerns about the condition of pitches in the Ghana Premier League.
Zito said Tinkler should have examined the football environment in Ghana before agreeing to take charge of the Kumasi-based club. He believes the Asante Kotoko coach must now adjust to the conditions he has encountered instead of repeatedly focusing on the poor playing surfaces.
Speaking on Akoma 87.9 FM, the veteran Ghanaian coach said Tinkler had a responsibility to understand the circumstances surrounding the job before taking it.
“Eric Tinkler needs to adjust himself to the situation here in Ghana. He should have taken the time to come down and assess the conditions before accepting the Asante Kotoko job,” Zito said.
Tinkler has previously voiced his dissatisfaction with the state of some pitches used in Ghanaian football, with the quality of playing surfaces becoming a recurring concern.
However, Zito argued that those same conditions had not prevented Tinkler from achieving an early success with Asante Kotoko. The club secured the Democracy Cup by beating Hearts of Oak, giving the coach his first trophy since arriving at the Kumasi-based giants.
“The same poor pitches he has been complaining about have given him a trophy, despite all the negativity surrounding the situation,” he added.
Zito’s comments were critical of Tinkler’s approach to the challenges he has found in Ghana, but he also made clear that he was pleased to see the coach celebrate the victory.
The FC AshGold 04 head coach said Tinkler’s reaction after the final reminded him of his own feelings when he won a cup. Zito explained that the celebration allowed him to identify with the Asante Kotoko manager and that he was genuinely pleased by the achievement.
“I was happy for Tinkler yesterday. I remember when I won a cup, I also danced, so when I saw him celebrating, I saw a bit of myself in him. I was genuinely happy for him,” Zito said.
Tinkler’s success against Hearts of Oak represents his first silverware since taking charge of Asante Kotoko. The result has raised expectations around the club as the Porcupine Warriors prepare for the forthcoming Ghana Premier League campaign.
Asante Kotoko and Tinkler will now turn their attention to the league season, with the club’s recent Democracy Cup victory providing an early boost ahead of the new campaign.
By Emmanuel Owusu
