Asante Kotoko head coach Eric Tinkler says the club expects to add at least two more players before the start of the new season as he continues to reshape the squad.
The South African made the announcement after Kotoko beat Heart of Lions 1-0 in a pre-season friendly at the warm-up pitch of the University of Ghana Stadium on Tuesday.
The Porcupine Warriors have already made significant changes to their squad following an eighth-place finish last season, with a number of players departing as the club attempt to build a stronger team for the campaign ahead.
Tinkler’s side have spent the past nine days in Accra, where preparations have focused on developing their tactical approach. Their pre-season programme began in Kumasi, before the team moved to the capital.
Despite the progress made over the past four and a half weeks, Tinkler does not believe Kotoko are yet in a position to say they are fully prepared.
“No, there’s, you know, you can never say your team is ready. You know, we’ve been working, what is it now, just over four and a half weeks. A lot of new faces, as I said,” he said.
The coach has been working with several new members of the squad and says they require more time to understand his methods and tactical expectations.
He also believes there are specific areas of the team that still need strengthening before the new season begins.
“We’re still looking to try and strengthen the squad in one or two areas where we think that we are still lacking. So, there should still be at least, excuse me, another two players coming in,” Tinkler added.
The victory over Heart of Lions provided another opportunity for Kotoko to assess their progress during pre-season, but the manager’s comments indicate that recruitment remains an important part of the club’s preparations.
Kotoko will continue their build-up before travelling back to Kumasi, where they are scheduled to face Hearts of Oak in the Democracy Cup on 28 August.
That fixture will form part of the final stages of their preparations as Tinkler works to integrate the club’s new arrivals and address the remaining gaps in his squad.
