EXCLUSIVE: Tinkler Lands In Durban After Asante Kotoko exit—Reunion With Kadodia Imminent!
Sportswire has been informed that Eric Tinkler has touched down in Durban to take over as head coach of Durban City.
According to a Sportswire eyewitness, Tinkler arrived in Durban on Tuesday to replace Khalil Ben Youssef, who had been sacked following a troubled tenure.
Tinkler recently resigned as head coach of Ghanaian outfit Asante Kotoko, where he briefed his players that he had received an opportunity to return home to South Africa.
The former Orlando Pirates coach—who spoke glowingly about life in Ghana after taking over in July—revealed that negotiations with Durban City had been ongoing for over a week.
Despite having only managed four matches at Kotoko, Tinkler ultimately agreed to leave the club to succeed Ben Youssef.
City, however, have yet to officially confirm his departure.
When Sportswire reached out to Durban City chairman Farook Kadodia for comment, he responded:
“The club is going through a difficult time, both in terms of on-field performance and coaching stability. There were irresponsible statements made by certain media outlets on Saturday, and we need to protect our brand. Please give us time before we put corrective measures in place.”
Ben Youssef, whose stint with City was his first as a head coach, was appointed during the off-season after parting ways with Kaizer Chiefs at the end of last season.
Tinkler brings a wealth of Premier Soccer League (PSL) experience, having coached Orlando Pirates as well as Cape Town City across two spells. His appointment marks a reunion with club chairman Farook Kadodia.
Tinkler was previously appointed head coach in January 2019, back when the club was still known as Maritzburg United. The team was struggling at the time, but he managed to steady the ship and guide them to a seventh-place finish.
The following season, Tinkler led the side to the Carling Knockout final at Moses Mabhida Stadium, where they lost to Mamelodi Sundowns. However, he was sacked in November 2020 after a disastrous run of seven consecutive defeats.
With only formalities remaining before his appointment is finalized, Tinkler inherits a City side in a vastly different situation than the one he took over seven years ago. They currently sit 10th on the log with seven points from seven matches.
Durban City’s qualification for the CAF Confederation Cup second preliminary round was a major factor in bringing Tinkler back, as he holds the mandatory CAF A License required to sit on the bench during continental fixtures.
The former Bafana Bafana midfielder’s first game in charge will be against AmaZulu at Chatsworth Stadium on 13 October. As is always the case under Kadodia’s demanding management, Tinkler will be expected to hit the ground running—or face the same fate as Ben Youssef.
