Asante Kotoko head coach Eric Tinkler says he embraces challenges and believes his 14 year coaching career has prepared him for the demands of the job.
The South African has managed several of the country’s biggest clubs, including Orlando Pirates, SuperSport United, Cape Town City, Maritzburg United and Bidvest Wits.
Tinkler has also enjoyed success in continental competitions, guiding Orlando Pirates to the CAF Champions League final and SuperSport United to the CAF Confederation Cup final.
Speaking after Kotoko’s 1-0 pre season win over Heart of Lions at the University of Ghana Stadium on Tuesday, August 18, Tinkler said challenging assignments have always motivated him.
“I like challenges. As a coach, I’ve been involved with clubs that have been in relegation battles, and I’ve managed to keep them up. I’ve been at clubs where we started with five players; it was a brand new club, and I had to build a team.
“We ended up finishing third in the league that season and qualifying for the CAF Confederation Cup. Those challenges are challenges that I enjoy. I started an academy when I was at Wits University, a football academy, and I built that academy.”
Tinkler has been tasked with rebuilding Kotoko after the Porcupine Warriors finished eighth in the Ghana Premier League last season.
His first competitive test will come against arch rivals Hearts of Oak in the 2026 Democracy Cup on August 28.
Kotoko will then open their 2026/27 Ghana Premier League campaign away to newly promoted Debibi United on September 6, 2026.
