Asante Kotoko head coach Eric Tinkler has called on his players to concentrate on the factors within their control as they prepare for a challenging Ghana Premier League encounter against FC Samartex 1996.
The Porcupine Warriors will make the trip to the Nsenkyire Sports Arena in Samreboi on Sunday, September 20, for their Week 3 fixture, with the game scheduled to kick off at 3:00pm.
With the long journey expected to test the team’s preparations, Tinkler has urged his players to remain mentally prepared and not allow the distance to become a distraction.
Speaking at the pre-match press conference, the South African tactician acknowledged the demanding nature of the trip but insisted that his squad must focus on how they respond to the circumstances.
“As I said, the players, you know, we need to think about focusing on the controllable. We can’t control the fact that the trip is going to be a very, very long trip. That’s just a fact and we have to accept it. But we’ve got to try and make the best of it,” Tinkler said.
The Kotoko boss also expects a difficult contest against a Samartex side that has enjoyed a perfect start to the campaign, particularly with the home advantage behind them.
Tinkler believes his team must bring intensity, energy and a positive approach if they are to compete effectively against the reigning league champions.
“Our actions will determine the result. If we go there and play a brand of football that is positive, with good intensity and a lot of energy, then we can compete against them,” he added.
Kotoko currently have four points from their opening two matches. They began the campaign with a 2-1 victory over Hearts of Lions before playing out a 2-2 draw against Debibi United.
Samartex, on the other hand, have collected maximum points from their first two games. They opened with a 3-1 win over Karela United before beating Aduana Stars 1-0 in their second fixture.
The recent history between the sides suggests another competitive encounter could be on the cards. Samartex recorded a 1-0 victory over Kotoko during the 2023/24 season, while the two sides shared the spoils in the following two campaigns, drawing 1-1 in 2024/25 and 0-0 in 2025/26. Kotoko’s previous away meeting in the 2022/23 campaign ended in a 2-1 victory for the Porcupine Warriors.
Despite the challenge ahead, Tinkler wants his players to approach the game with confidence while respecting their opponents.
“The mindset needs to be a positive mindset. Go there and look to try and get ourselves to the top by securing a win against them. But know that it’s going to be a tough game. Show them some respect, but at the same time, it’s all about ourselves.”
Kotoko will be hoping to turn that mentality into a strong performance when they take on Samartex at the Nsenkyire Sports Arena on Sunday.