Eric Tinkler excited to kick-start Durban City return after Asante Kotoko exit

Eric Tinkler is relishing the chance to begin his new chapter with Durban City after being unveiled as the club’s head coach following his departure from Ghanaian giants Asante Kotoko.

Tinkler’s appointment ends weeks of speculation surrounding the vacant position and gives the South African coach an immediate opportunity to return to the Betway Premiership, where he has built a reputation through previous spells with several top-flight clubs.

Tinkler embraces Durban City challenge

The 55-year-old left Asante Kotoko last month after a short stint in Ghana and has now returned to familiar territory, taking charge of a Durban City side that was previously known as Maritzburg United.

Tinkler has extensive experience in South African football, having previously coached Orlando Pirates, SuperSport United, Cape Town City, Sekhukhune United and Maritzburg United.

His familiarity with the club’s setup and owner Farouk Kadodia was an important factor in his decision to return. Kadodia parted ways with Khalil Ben Youssef early in the campaign before bringing Tinkler back to lead the team.

“I’m excited to be part of what is being built here at Durban City FC,” Tinkler said.

“The club is very ambitious. They have made positive strides in a short space of time, competing in the CAF Confederation Cup already, and that made my decision easy.”

The coach also pointed to his existing relationship with Kadodia as another reason behind his decision.

“The chairman is someone I’ve worked with before. When the opportunity presented itself to come back, I grabbed it with both hands.”

No major overhaul planned

Despite taking charge of a team that has already experienced a change in the dugout, Tinkler does not intend to immediately dismantle the work done before his arrival.

Instead, the former Asante Kotoko coach wants to build on the foundations that helped Durban City enjoy success last season while creating opportunities for players within the squad.

“I don’t want to make massive changes because last season the club was successful. It’s about giving others an opportunity and getting back to winning ways,” he said.

His immediate challenge will be to restore consistency while balancing the club’s domestic ambitions with its involvement in continental competition.

Durban City are competing in the CAF Confederation Cup and also have the Carling Cup and Nedbank Cup to contest, giving Tinkler a demanding schedule as he settles into his new role.

“We want to finish in the top eight, go as far as we can in the CAF Confederation Cup, and compete in the Carling Cup and Nedbank Cup. There’s a lot to play for,” Tinkler added.

Kadodia backs experienced coach

Kadodia expressed confidence in Tinkler’s ability to guide the club through the remainder of the campaign, pointing to the coach’s extensive knowledge of the South African game.

“Eric brings a wealth of experience in South African football and understands what is required at this level,” Kadodia said.

“We believe he is the right person to lead the team and help us achieve what we have set out to achieve this season.”

Tinkler will not have to wait long for his first major test.

The new Durban City boss is set to make his competitive return to the South African top flight on Tuesday when his side face high-flying AmaZulu in a Durban derby.

The fixture will provide an immediate examination of Tinkler’s plans as he begins his second spell at the club and looks to turn his excitement over the new project into results on the pitch.