Asante Kotoko head coach Eric Tinkler says he joined the club to win trophies, not simply to collect a salary, as he targets a top-two finish in the 2026/27 Ghana Premier League season.
The South African coach took charge of the Kumasi-based club in July after Asante Kotoko endured a disappointing previous campaign without major silverware. He has now set out his ambitions ahead of the new season, which is scheduled to begin in September.
Tinkler wants to build a competitive team capable of challenging for honours in every competition the Porcupine Warriors enter. Although he has identified a top-two league finish as a key objective, the former South African international says success cannot be measured only by the final position in the table.
“The target is to finish in the top two. I didn’t come here to just earn a salary. I came here to win things; that’s the most important thing. I came here to win things and achieve things,” Tinkler told journalists on Tuesday.
The 55-year-old made the comments after leading Asante Kotoko to a 1-0 pre-season victory over Heart of Lions. The friendly allowed him to assess his squad in a match environment while continuing to introduce his tactical ideas.
Tinkler also warned that his desire to succeed would be visible from the touchline during the campaign.
“I’m a very ambitious person, so I will be very animated on the bench. My passion is to win things,” he said.
Asante Kotoko are expected to play two further friendlies before the competitive season begins. Those matches will provide Tinkler with more time to evaluate his players, refine his approach and determine which parts of the squad need strengthening or improvement.
The coach arrived as the club seeks to recover its position among the leading forces in Ghanaian football. The failure to win major silverware last season has increased the pressure to produce a stronger campaign, while supporters will expect the team to compete seriously for honours.
Tinkler’s early message is that ambition will be central to his plans. He wants his players to adopt a winning mentality and believes the club must aim high rather than settle for modest objectives.
The top-two target gives Asante Kotoko a clear league benchmark, but Tinkler’s wider aim is to deliver success across the competitions in which the club participates. His immediate task is to use the remaining preparation matches to shape the squad and ensure his ideas are understood before the season starts.
The Porcupine Warriors will therefore begin the new campaign with renewed expectations and a coach determined to embrace the challenge. Tinkler must now turn his stated commitment to winning into consistent performances once competitive football returns in September.
