Asante Kotoko head coach Eric Tinkler believes the club has turned a corner in terms of discipline and team unity after a major overhaul of the squad ahead of the 2026/27 season.
Tinkler made the remarks after Kotoko recorded a 1-0 victory over Heart of Lions in a pre-season friendly at the University of Ghana Stadium warm-up pitch on Tuesday. The result marked their second win in Accra, following a 2-0 victory over Golden Warriors in a game played across three 45-minute periods.
The Porcupine Warriors have undergone significant changes following their eighth-place finish last season, with several senior players leaving through releases and mutual contract terminations. Among those who have departed are Prince Badu, Kwame Poku, Elvis Kyei Baffour, Francis Acquah and goalkeeper Benjamin Twum.
According to Tinkler, the changes were necessary to address disciplinary concerns that existed when he arrived at the club, with the South African coach now seeing a more united group.
“I think the discipline, both on the field and off the field, obviously, was an issue when I arrived, but I think we’ve dealt with that really, really well. We’ve got rid of the rotten element that existed in the club, and today you can see everyone is united. Everybody’s fighting for the same cause, and it’s a positive thing to see.”
Kotoko have spent nine days in Accra as part of their pre-season preparations and are expected to return to Kumasi ahead of their Democracy Cup clash against Hearts of Oak on August 28.
Tinkler will now look to use the remaining preparation period to further build his new-look squad as Kotoko aim for a stronger campaign in the upcoming season.