Football analyst Kojo Addae Mensah says Coach Eric Tinkler’s departure from Asante Kotoko Football Club after just 2 months did not come as a surprise to him, insisting he had anticipated the South African would leave eventually.
Tinkler quit the Kotoko job after a shocking defeat to a ten-man Aduana FC on Sunday in the Ghana Premier League.
The club announced that they “agreed to the request of its Head Coach, Eric Tinkler, to be released from his contract with the Club effective immediately for personal reasons.”
Speaking to Luv FM, Addae Mensah said he had predicted that Tinkler would experience a “cultural shock” after moving from South Africa to Ghana, particularly because of the differences in football infrastructure and playing surfaces.
“But when Tinkler was appointed, I said he is going to have a cultural shock. By the time he settles, we probably will be off pace to be able to win this title,” Addae Mensah said.
Addae Mensah, who used to report on Asante Kotoko as a columnist, explained that his view was shaped by his previous experience with the club, particularly during trips to South Africa, where he said the standard of football facilities extended even to schools.
“I was not surprised at all. I said, there you go, because in South Africa, even primary school pitches are top-notch,” he added.
Reflecting on his time with Kotoko, Addae Mensah recalled training at school facilities in South Africa.
“I had this time when I was deep in Kotoko, anytime we go down to South Africa, we were training on pitches for schools, with floodlights and everything,” he said.
Addae Mensah believes the challenges Tinkler encountered surfaced sooner than he had expected.
“So honestly speaking, it has come earlier than I expected. It hasn’t come as a shock to me at all because he’s going to have cultural shock,” he stated.
Eric Tinkler won one game in 4 Ghana Premier League games and led Kotoko to win the 2026 Democracy Cup, beating arch-rivals Hearts of Oak on penalties.
