Eric Tinkler set for Durban City return after Asante Kotoko exit

Kojo Addae Mensah, a former football analyst for Asante Kotoko, expressed no surprise over the recent resignation of coach Eric Tinkler after only two months. Tinkler left the club following a loss to Aduana FC, who played the match with a ten-man squad. Kotoko's management announced that they had agreed to Tinkler's request for release from his contract due to personal reasons.

During an interview on Luv FM, Addae Mensah revealed his prediction that Tinkler would face a "cultural shock" upon moving from South Africa to Ghana. He explained this was due to the stark differences in football infrastructure and playing surfaces between the two countries. Addae Mensah, who had previously reported on Kotoko as a columnist, pointed out the contrast between the state-of-the-art pitches in South Africa - even those used by schools - and the facilities in Ghana. "In South Africa, even primary school pitches are top-notch," he remarked.

Reflecting on his time with Kotoko, Addae Mensah recalled the training sessions they had at school facilities in South Africa, complete with floodlights and other professional amenities. He believes that Tinkler's difficulties emerged sooner than anticipated. Thus, the analyst stated that the resignation did not come as a shock to him.

Despite Tinkler's success in leading Kotoko to win the 2026 Democracy Cup, beating Hearts of Oak in a penalty shootout, Addae Mensah attributed the coach's departure to the unforeseen cultural challenges he encountered.