‘You Can’t Improve Players on Pitches Like This’ — Kotoko Coach Tinkler

Asante Kotoko head coach Eric Tinkler has raised concerns about the quality of football pitches in Ghana, arguing that poor playing surfaces are making it difficult to develop players and prepare the team effectively for the upcoming season.

The South African coach, who was appointed to lead the Porcupine Warriors for the 2026/27 season, has been overseeing preparations as the club fine-tunes its squad ahead of the new Ghana Premier League campaign.

Kotoko have been training in Accra as part of their preparations, with the league season scheduled to begin next month.

Speaking during a media engagement on Tuesday, August 18, Tinkler said the quality of training pitches was a major factor in player development and overall performance.

“The standard of the pitch might not mean a lot, but it is of massive importance; how are you going to improve a footballer on a pitch like this? You are not going to improve him.”

He said the impact of poor pitches was evident in the players’ frustration and limited the coaching staff’s ability to work on important aspects of their game.

“I can’t teach them a lot when we play on poor pitches, and the disappointment they have on their faces; you can see.”

Tinkler also addressed discipline within the team, cautioning against placing the blame solely on players. He argued that indiscipline often results from several underlying issues within a club.

According to the coach, improving discipline requires addressing both on-field and broader organisational challenges.

He said some seemingly minor issues within a club could eventually develop into bigger problems if they were not properly addressed.

Kotoko are set to begin their 2026/27 Ghana Premier League campaign against newly promoted Debibi United as Tinkler prepares to lead the club into the new season.