{
  "id": 1900997,
  "title": "Tinkler laments poor pitches as Kotoko seek possession-based style",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/19/tinkler-laments-poor-pitches-as-kotoko-seek-possession-based-style",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-19T08:43:01.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Adom Online",
    "slug": "adom-online",
    "url": "https://www.adomonline.com/tinkler-laments-poor-pitches-as-kotoko-seek-possession-based-style/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Asante Kotoko head coach Eric Tinkler has expressed his concerns over Ghana's football pitches, stating that the poor condition is making it difficult for his team to play the possession-based style of football they prefer. Tinkler, who has managed South African clubs such as Orlando Pirates and SuperSport United, made these remarks after Kotoko won a pre-season friendly against Heart of Lions 1-0 at the University of Ghana Sports Stadium on Tuesday. The 55-year-old coach highlighted that the pitch quality in Ghana is significantly different from what he is used to in South Africa. \"It hasn't been easy obviously; conditions are very different from what you find in South Africa,\" Tinkler said to the media. \"As you are well aware, the standard of the pitches are not great, which obviously makes it much harder for the players.\" Tinkler explained that the unfavorable pitch conditions are especially challenging for a team that aims to play a possession-based game. \"We want to try and play a possession-based game and on pitches like this, it becomes very, very difficult,\" he added. Despite acknowledging the challenges posed by the poor pitches, Tinkler emphasized that his players cannot use it as an excuse. \"What we can't do is to use it as an excuse; it's our reality, and we have to adapt,\" he concluded. Tinkler took over as Kotoko head coach earlier this off-season following the team's eighth-place finish in the 2025/26 Ghana Premier League. He is charged with rebuilding the Kumasi-based club and enhancing its performance ahead of the upcoming season. Kotoko is scheduled to kick off their 2026/27 Ghana Premier League campaign with an away match against newly promoted Debibi United. Prior to the league, however, the Porcupine Warriors will face their arch-rivals Hearts of Oak in the 2026 Democracy Cup as part of their preparations for the new season.",
  "summary": "Asante Kotoko head coach Eric Tinkler has expressed concern over the condition of football pitches in Ghana, saying poor playing surfaces are making it difficult for his team to implement its preferred style of football. The South African coach made the comments after Kotoko defeated Heart of Lions 1-0 in a pre-season friendly at the […]",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}