Asante Kotoko parted ways with South African coach Eric Tinkler after only two months in charge. The sudden exit has sparked debate about who should take over the reins. Football analyst Kojo Addae Mensah wants the club to focus on appointing a top qualified Ghanaian coach.
Mensah called on the club’s management to prioritise a local coach with the right credentials. “I think we should go out there and get the best local coach available,” he said. “We will have to try and get the best local coach possible. That’s my view.”
His comments come amid growing pressure on Ghanaian coaches to raise their standards in licensing and certification. Mensah used the moment to urge local coaches to obtain the necessary badges. “I will use this opportunity again to advise and talk to our local coaches to get their licenses and badges because it is important,” he said.
He dismissed complaints about the cost of coaching certifications. “They do not need to complain about the badges being expensive. Even the best coaches in the world require a license to coach.” Mensah added that certification is a basic requirement to work at the highest levels of football. “The coaches must get their badges in order to sit in the dugout.”
Mensah has frequently advocated for home-based coaches to lead Asante Kotoko. Before Tinkler’s appointment, he had called for the club to sign Dreams FC coach Ignatius Osei Ofosu. His latest statement reinforces his belief that local expertise should be trusted to handle one of Ghana’s biggest clubs.
Asante Kotoko’s search for a new coach comes at a time when the club is looking to rebuild after a disappointing start to the season. Tinkler’s brief spell was marked by mixed results, which led to his quick departure.
The club has a history of hiring foreign coaches, but Mensah’s push for a qualified Ghanaian coach highlights a growing sentiment that local coaches deserve more opportunities. His insistence on professional certification also signals a shift towards raising coaching standards across Ghanaian football.
For now, Asante Kotoko faces the challenge of finding the right candidate who can deliver results on the pitch while meeting the certification standards Mensah stressed. The club’s next appointment will be watched closely by fans and analysts alike.
Mensah’s comments put the spotlight on the need for local coaches to improve their qualifications and for clubs to back them fully when they do. The conversation around coaching at Asante Kotoko now centres on blending experience with proper licensing to guide the team forward.
According to Joy Online.
