Forget about last season's disappointment and stay focused – Asante Kotoko board chairman tells players
Asante Kotoko Board Chairman James Osei Brown has called on the club’s players to put the disappointments of last season behind them and focus fully on making a strong start to the 2026/27 Ghana Premier League campaign.
The Porcupine Warriors have intensified preparations for the new season under newly appointed South African head coach Eric Tinkler, with the team currently in Accra for their pre-season programme.
Speaking to the playing body following their arrival in the capital, Brown explained that the club’s decision to overhaul its technical team and bring in additional personnel was aimed at improving the squad and creating a stronger foundation for the future.
He said the changes were primarily made to support the development of the players and help Kotoko achieve their long-term ambitions.
“We intentionally brought in people far to help us to do and get certain things we don’t have and in a certain way that can make us better, and all this for you, the players,” he said.
Brown acknowledged that Kotoko fell short of their objectives during the 2025/26 campaign but urged the players to treat the new season as an opportunity for a fresh start.
“We are preparing you for a greater future. We all know last season, we couldn’t get what we wanted even though we did the best we could, but the results were not what we wanted, but we are having a new beginning.”
The board chairman challenged the players to show the same level of commitment that the club’s leadership is demonstrating behind the scenes.
He urged them to adopt a renewed mentality and remain determined to deliver better results in the upcoming campaign.
“I want us to forget the past and let’s focus and be determined. I want you to join me because the kind of effort the board and everyone is putting in, I want you, the players, to put in the same effort,” Brown added.
Kotoko endured a difficult 2025/26 season and will be targeting a significant improvement under Tinkler, who has been tasked with rebuilding the team and restoring the club to a stronger competitive position.
The Kumasi-based giants will get an early test of their preparations when they face arch-rivals Hearts of Oak in the 2026 Democracy Cup.
The fixture will give Tinkler another opportunity to assess his squad and fine-tune his plans ahead of the start of the competitive season.
Kotoko will then open their 2026/27 Ghana Premier League campaign away against newly promoted Debibi United, with the Porcupine Warriors hoping to begin the season with a positive result.