Asante Kotoko head coach Eric Tinkler has expressed strong dissatisfaction with the poor standard of football pitches in Ghana, warning that substandard playing surfaces hinder player development.
The South African tactician, who was appointed to lead the Porcupine Warriors for the 2026/27 Ghana Premier League season, raised the concerns during a media interaction on Tuesday, August 18, while the team was in Accra preparing for the upcoming campaign.
Addressing the challenges facing the squad, Tinkler highlighted how off-field conditions and poor facilities impact player discipline and overall performance.
“We saw the issues at the club when I arrived, when it came to discipline…for me, on-field discipline is probably more important,” he said. “To just blame players, I don’t think, is right. There are a lot of deeper things that lead to indiscipline. A lot of small issues that may exist in the club may end up being a big thing.
“As I mentioned before, the standard of the pitch might not mean a lot, but it is of massive importance; how are you going to improve a footballer on a pitch like this? You are not going to improve him…I can’t teach them a lot when we play on poor pitches and the disappointment they have on their faces; you can see.”
Asante Kotoko will open their 2026/27 Ghana Premier League campaign against newly promoted Debibi United next month.