Asante Kotoko Appoint Eric Tinkler as New Head Coach‎‎

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Published: July 17 2026

Story by Saibu Terry
‎Asante Kotoko Sporting Club has officially announced the appointment of experienced South African coach Eric Tinkler as the club’s new Head Coach with immediate effect.

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‎The Porcupine Warriors confirmed the appointment in a statement issued on Friday, describing Tinkler as a world-class coach with extensive top-flight experience and a distinguished playing and coaching career.

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‎Tinkler, a Portuguese-South African national, joins the Ghanaian giants with more than 30 years of experience in elite football. He holds a CAF A Licence and has coached some of South Africa’s most prominent clubs, including Cape Town City FC, SuperSport United, Maritzburg United, Orlando Pirates and Bidvest Wits FC.

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‎During his coaching career, he guided Orlando Pirates to a runner-up finish in the CAF Champions League and also led the club to the CAF Confederation Cup final. His achievements at SuperSport United include multiple domestic honours, among them MTN 8 titles and the Telkom Knockout trophy.
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‎As a player, Tinkler earned 48 caps for South Africa and captained Bafana Bafana at the 2002 Africa Cup of Nations. He was also a member of the South African team that won the 1996 AFCON and represented the country at the 1998 FIFA World Cup. His playing career took him to clubs in England, Italy and Portugal, including Barnsley FC, Cagliari Calcio and Vitória de Setúbal.
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‎The club believes Tinkler’s tactical expertise, structured approach and proven ability to develop players will be crucial as Kotoko seeks sustained success both domestically and on the continental stage.
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‎Asante Kotoko Board Chairman James Osei Brown welcomed the appointment, describing Tinkler as a coach with a strong winning pedigree and an excellent track record in African football.
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‎“Eric brings a wealth of experience, discipline and winning pedigree to our technical bench. His track record of developing players and delivering results at the highest level in African football makes him the right man to lead our team at this important time,” he said.
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‎Speaking after his appointment, Tinkler expressed excitement about taking charge of one of Africa’s most celebrated football clubs.
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‎“I am honoured and excited to join one of Africa’s most storied football institutions. Asante Kotoko’s rich history, passion for success and ambition for development are well known across the continent. I look forward to working with the players, staff and management to build a team that can compete and win both at home and on the continental stage,” he stated.
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‎The appointment marks a new chapter for the Kumasi-based club as it seeks to strengthen its technical direction and challenge for major honours in the upcoming season.