Change your tactics if the pitch is not good – Karim Zito fires Eric Tinkler

Former Asante Kotoko head coach Karim Zito has hit back at Eric Tinkler’s criticism of Ghana’s football pitches, urging the South African to adapt his tactics instead of using the playing surfaces as an excuse.

Tinkler had complained about the quality of pitches in Ghana during Kotoko’s pre-season preparations, arguing that poor surfaces made it difficult for him to implement his possession-based style of football.

But Zito, speaking to Akoma Sports on Saturday, August 29, 2026, believes Tinkler should have been prepared to deal with the conditions before taking the Kotoko job.

“He should adjust his tactics to the situation here. When they came for him he should have come to assess all these things but he didn’t come,” Zito said.

The veteran coach argued that the reality of Ghanaian football should be understood and adapted to by coaches working in the local game.

“If your eyes are good and you see these things, the moment you come here you’ll worry about them then with time you adjust to it,” he added.

Zito also pointed to Tinkler’s own success as evidence that the pitch conditions should not dominate the conversation.

“The field is not good but you won the first cup? With all the negativity he said about the team, he won the cup,” he remarked.

Tinkler guided Kotoko to their first trophy of his tenure on Friday, August 28, 2026, when the Porcupine Warriors defeated Hearts of Oak to lift the Democracy Cup.

FKA/AM