Ghana Premier League (GPL) giants Asante Kotoko Sporting Club have announced the appointment of experienced South African coach Eric Tinkler as the club’s new head coach with immediate effect.
The announcement, made on Friday, July 17, 2026, marks the beginning of a new chapter for the Porcupine Warriors as they prepare for the upcoming football season and seek success in both domestic and continental competitions.
Tinkler joins Kotoko with an impressive football background spanning more than three decades.
The Portuguese-South African tactician is a former captain of South Africa’s national team, Bafana Bafana, and holds a CAF A Licence.
Throughout his coaching career, he has managed some of South Africa’s biggest clubs, including Cape Town City FC, SuperSport United, Maritzburg United, Orlando Pirates and Bidvest Wits.
During his time in South Africa, Tinkler guided Orlando Pirates to a runner-up finish in the CAF Champions League and also reached the CAF Confederation Cup final with SuperSport United.
He has also won several domestic cup honours, including the MTN 8 competition and the Telkom Knockout.
As a player, Tinkler earned 48 caps for South Africa and captained the national team at the 2002 Africa Cup of Nations.
He also represented his country at the 1998 FIFA World Cup and was a member of the historic Bafana Bafana squad that won the 1996 Africa Cup of Nations.
His playing career also took him to England, Italy and Portugal, where he featured for clubs such as Barnsley, Cagliari and Vitória de Setúbal.
Kotoko described Tinkler as a coach with outstanding tactical knowledge, a structured approach to management and a proven ability to develop young players.
He will work closely with the club’s Director of Football, Stanley Menzo Purl, as Kotoko aims to build a strong and sustainable football structure capable of competing for major honours.
Board Chairman James Osei Brown welcomed the appointment, saying Tinkler’s experience, discipline and record of producing results make him the ideal person to lead the club at this crucial stage.
“I am honoured and excited to join one of Africa’s most storied football institutions,” Tinkler said after his appointment. “Asante Kotoko’s rich history, passion for success and ambition are well known across the continent. I look forward to working with the players, technical staff and management to build a team that can compete and win both in Ghana and in Africa.”
