Asante Kotoko director of football Stanley Menzo says the club made the correct decision by appointing Eric Tinkler as head coach ahead of the 2026/27 Ghana Premier League season.
The South African was confirmed as the new manager of the Porcupine Warriors as the club begins rebuilding following a disappointing campaign. Kotoko did not finish in the top four last season, leading to changes within the technical team before the start of the new league campaign.
Menzo said the club had assessed its options carefully before deciding that Tinkler was the right person to take charge. He believes the coach’s experience of developing clubs made him the strongest candidate available to Kotoko.
“We appointed the best coach we could have. He has built clubs to a high standard,” Menzo told the club’s official media.
Tinkler has previously managed South African clubs including Orlando Pirates and Cape Town City. His immediate task will be to help Asante Kotoko improve on last season’s performance and restore the club to the upper reaches of Ghanaian football.
The appointment represents the latest step in Kotoko’s efforts to rebuild their team and technical structure. After missing out on a place in the top four, the club are hoping the arrival of a coach with experience of leading established South African sides can bring greater consistency and allow them to challenge for major honours.
Tinkler will now begin shaping a squad capable of competing at the highest level during the new campaign. His preparations will take place with Kotoko currently based in Accra, where the Reds are stepping up their work ahead of the season.
One of the early tests in the build-up will be a meeting with rivals Hearts of Oak in the 2026 Democracy Cup. The fixture will give Tinkler an opportunity to assess his players in a high-profile match against one of Ghana’s biggest clubs.
The contest with Hearts of Oak will also form part of Kotoko’s preparations as the new coach begins to establish his approach and evaluate the squad available to him. It will be an early indication of how the team is progressing before the competitive campaign begins.
Asante Kotoko will start their 2026/27 Ghana Premier League season away from home against Debibi United. That opening fixture will provide Tinkler with his first league assignment as the club seeks a much-improved season.
Menzo’s endorsement underlines the confidence within Kotoko that the appointment can help the club recover from last season’s disappointment. The director of football says the decision was made after careful consideration, while Tinkler now faces the responsibility of turning that backing into results on the pitch.
For the Porcupine Warriors, the targets are clear: rebuild after failing to reach the top four, compete more strongly in the new Ghana Premier League campaign and return to the top end of Ghanaian football.
