Asante Kotoko head coach Eric Tinkler has urged his players to approach every away fixture with the mentality of a home game as they prepare to face Samartex in the Ghana Premier League on Sunday.
The Porcupine Warriors travel to the Nsenkyire Sports Arena in Samreboi for their third league match of the season, with Samartex providing a difficult test after winning their opening two matches.
Kotoko began their campaign with a draw against newly promoted Debibi United before recording their first victory with a 2-1 win over Bibiani GoldStars at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium.
Tinkler is now looking for his players to carry that momentum into Samreboi and compete strongly for another three points.
The South African coach says Kotoko must remove the traditional psychological difference between home and away matches and develop the mentality that every venue is an opportunity to collect points.
“Every away game must be seen as a home game,” Tinkler said.
He believes the team must travel with confidence rather than allowing the location of the match or the atmosphere at the stadium to affect their approach.
The coach is also aware that the journey to Samreboi will be a long one, but he does not want his players to make the travel distance an excuse.
“We need to think about focusing on the controllables. We can’t control the fact that the trip is going to be a very, very long trip. That is just a fact, and we have to accept it. But we’ve got to try and make the best of it,” he said.
Tinkler knows the encounter will be demanding, particularly because Samartex have started the season with maximum points from their opening two games.
The Timber Giants defeated their first opponents before securing another important victory away against Aduana FC in Dormaa, giving them six points from two matches.
Kotoko, meanwhile, have four points and will be hoping to close the gap on the early leaders.
Tinkler has therefore called for a positive mentality from his players as they seek to move towards the top of the league table.
“The mindset needs to be a positive mindset. Go there, look to try and get ourselves to the top of the log by securing a win against them,” he said.
The coach admits Samartex will not make things easy for his team, especially on their home ground.
“It’s not going to be an easy game, very difficult game away from home. But our actions will determine the result,” Tinkler stated.
His comments underline the importance he places on Kotoko’s own performance rather than factors outside their control.
Tinkler wants his players to concentrate on their football, maintain their intensity and execute their game plan regardless of the environment in which they are playing.
He believes Kotoko have the quality to compete for the points if they approach the match with the right attitude and energy.
“If we go there, play a brand of football that is positive, with good intensity and a lot of energy, then we can compete against them,” the coach said.
The Samartex game will also test Kotoko’s ability to adapt defensively without abandoning their established playing philosophy.
Tinkler has studied Samartex’s approach under new head coach Nana Kweku Agyemang and expects the home side to rely on possession and an intense pressing game.
Despite that, he says Kotoko will not abandon their own identity.
“I think ultimately the way we approach our game is always we must play our brand of football, play our game model, but obviously defensively we need to adapt to what the opposition are doing,” Tinkler explained.
He added that the adjustments will mainly concern Kotoko’s defensive shape and structure rather than changing the team’s overall style.
“We don’t change the way we play, but ultimately we understand that defensively our shape and our structure may have to change due to what the opposition are doing,” he added.
Tinkler’s approach reflects the balance he wants from his team — maintaining an identifiable style of play while making tactical adjustments according to the strengths and weaknesses of the opposition.
Samartex’s perfect start makes Sunday’s match particularly important for Kotoko.
A victory would take the Porcupine Warriors to seven points and put them in a strong position among the early leaders, while another result could allow Samartex to maintain their position at the top end of the table.
Tinkler is therefore demanding commitment from his players from the opening whistle.
The coach also wants Kotoko to show the same attacking intent and energy that helped them secure their first victory of the campaign against Bibiani GoldStars.
The trip to Samreboi represents another opportunity for Kotoko to demonstrate their progress under Tinkler, but the coach knows that the team must be tactically disciplined if they are to return to Kumasi with points.
For Samartex, the objective will be to protect their unbeaten start and maintain their winning momentum in front of their home supporters.
For Kotoko, Tinkler’s message is straightforward: the venue should not determine their mentality.
The Porcupine Warriors must travel believing they can compete, play their football with intensity and treat the fixture as another opportunity to secure maximum points.
As Tinkler prepares his side for what he expects to be a difficult encounter, his emphasis remains on mentality, energy, tactical discipline and the players’ response on the pitch.
“It’s not going to be an easy game, very difficult game away from home. But our actions will determine the result.”
