'I’m not making excuses about the pitch' – Eric Tinkler responds to Zito and Maxwell Konadu

Asante Kotoko head coach Eric Tinkler acknowledged that his team still has room for improvement, despite clinching the Democracy Cup through a 4-1 penalty shootout victory over local rivals Hearts of Oak. The match took place at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium, where goalkeeper Ibrahim Danlad proved crucial by saving two penalties for his side.

This triumph offers a morale boost as Kotoko prepares to kick off the 2026/27 Ghana Premier League season against new entrants Debibi United on September 6th at Golden City Park in Berekum. However, Tinkler emphasized that the win is merely an early indicator of progress as he continues to rebuild the squad. He recalled that when he first took charge, the team's performance was not impressive.

Since then, the new signings have integrated well, and the team has shown positive advancements. Nevertheless, Tinkler stresses that significant enhancements are still required before his vision can be fully realized. He highlighted areas such as synchronicity, understanding, philosophy, discipline, and the fundamentals that need fine-tuning.

The South African coach also noted that Kotoko has been highly active in the transfer market, signing 12 new players in an attempt to revamp the team following their eighth-place finish in the 2025/26 campaign. These additions include returning goalkeeper Danlad, Ivorian defender Koffi Marius Ange Bini, Burkina Faso midfielder Abdoul Kader Tarnagda, Cameroonian midfielder Solomon Nsor Asaah, and Moroccan goalkeeper Abdel Wadie Mourad.

Tinkler hopes these signings will empower Kotoko to pursue a stronger challenge this season, with the ultimate goal of reclaiming their position at the pinnacle of Ghanaian football.