Eric Tinkler Set To Take Charge Of Durban City After Asante Kotoko Exit
Eric Tinkler is set to return to South African football, with the experienced coach expected to take over as the new head coach of Durban City following his departure from Ghanaian giants Asante Kotoko.
Tinkler is expected to begin work with Durban City this week after the club recently parted ways with Tunisian coach Khalil Ben Youssef.
The move comes just a day after Tinkler’s final match in charge of Kotoko, where the Ghanaian side suffered a 2-0 home defeat to Aduana FC in the Ghana Premier League.
The result was Kotoko’s first league defeat of the 2026/27 campaign and Tinkler’s first loss since taking charge of the club.
Tinkler had already agreed to leave the Ghanaian club and had hoped to sign off with a victory against Aduana FC. Instead, his short spell in Kumasi ended with defeat.
Asante Kotoko confirmed on Monday that Tinkler had been released from his contract with immediate effect after he requested to leave for personal reasons.
The club said discussions had taken place in an effort to convince the coach to remain in his position, but ultimately respected his decision.
Tinkler joined Kotoko in July and spent only a few months in charge. He oversaw four Ghana Premier League matches, recording one win, two draws and one defeat.
Despite his brief league campaign, he did manage to add silverware to his time in Ghana after guiding Kotoko to the 2026 Democracy Cup. They defeated Hearts of Oak 4-1 on penalties to lift the trophy.
His departure now appears to have opened the way for a return to the Betway Premiership.
Durban City are looking for a new coach after ending their relationship with Ben Youssef, who spent around three months in charge. The Tunisian coach oversaw seven league matches, winning one, drawing four and losing two.
Ben Youssef also guided Durban City into the second round of the CAF Confederation Cup after the club progressed past Rukinzo FC in the preliminary round.
Tinkler was previously linked with the Durban City position before Ben Youssef was appointed in June, making the reported move a return to an opportunity that had earlier failed to materialise.
The South African coach brings extensive experience of the country’s top-flight game. He has previously managed Orlando Pirates, Cape Town City, SuperSport United, Chippa United, Maritzburg United and Sekhukhune United. Maritzburg United later became Durban City.
Reports indicate that Tinkler is expected to take charge in Durban this week, giving him roughly two weeks to work with the squad before the Betway Premiership resumes.
Durban City will also have continental commitments to consider, meaning Tinkler’s immediate task will involve preparing the team for both domestic and CAF competition.
For Kotoko, the club will now have to find a replacement for Tinkler, with Director of Football Stanley Purl Menzo set to oversee the technical team in the meantime. Kotoko’s next league match is against Karela United on October 1.
While Durban City have not yet formally announced Tinkler as their new coach, multiple reports in South Africa indicate that the 56-year-old is set to take over the position.
Related Contents
