Former Asante Kotoko head coach Karim Zito has urged Asante Kotoko coach Eric Tinkler to stop complaining about Ghana’s poor pitches and must adapt to the conditions.
Tinkler, who took charge of the Porcupine Warriors ahead of the 2026/27 Ghana Premier League season, recently criticised the state of pitches in the country after Kotoko’s 1-0 pre-season victory over Heart of Lions at the University of Ghana Stadium.
Speaking on Akoma FM, Zito said the South African should have familiarised himself with Ghana’s football environment before accepting the Kotoko job.
“Eric Tinkler needs to adjust himself to the situation here in Ghana. He should have taken the time to come down and assess the conditions before accepting the Asante Kotoko job,” the veteran coach said.
Zito also argued that Tinkler’s criticism overlooked the fact that he had already enjoyed success despite the challenging playing surfaces.
“The same poor pitches he has been complaining about have given him a trophy, despite all the negativity surrounding the situation,” he added.
Despite disagreeing with Tinkler’s remarks, Zito praised the Kotoko coach’s passion after watching him celebrate his first trophy with the club.
“I was happy for Tinkler yesterday. I remember when I won a cup, I also danced, so when I saw him celebrating, I saw a bit of myself in him. I was genuinely happy for him,” he said.
Tinkler recently led Kotoko to victory over rivals Hearts of Oak in the Democracy Cup, securing his first piece of silverware since taking charge.
Kotoko will now shift their focus to the start of the 2026/27 Ghana Premier League season, where they open their campaign away to Debibi United.
