Online Reporter
Stanford Chiwanga
IN 2015, Chicken Inn etched their name into Zimbabwean football history by clinching the Premier Soccer League title.
That same season, they reached the final of the Easy Call Cup, finishing as runners-up. During this period, the name “Chicken Inn” evoked genuine fear across the league. They were not just competitive; they were dominant. Much of their meteoric rise and success was attributed to one man — Joey Antipas. With Antipas at the helm, the GameCocks appeared destined to remain among the elite of Zimbabwean football.
Beyond their league triumph, Chicken Inn showcased their cup pedigree by winning the Independence Cup in 2016 and the Net One Charity Cup in 2013. They also claimed bronze in the 2013 Independence Cup. The GameCocks have consistently vied for top honours, finishing second in the PSL in both 2019 and the 2021/2022 season. They secured third-place finishes in 2018 and 2012, and were in position four in 2017 and 2016. Their competitive edge extended beyond borders, as evidenced by their victory in the 2020 Malawi Champions Engem four-team, three-country invitational tournament.
However, despite these successes, a closer examination of their coaching history reveals a troubling lack of stability that has often undermined the club. The supposed “continuity and evolution of leadership” has, in reality, resembled a revolving door of appointments, departures, and reappointments — culminating in a crisis this season.
In the early years, Philani Ncube led the team from 2010 to 2011, supported by Philani Mabhena as assistant and Julius Ndlovu as goalkeepers’ coach. In 2011, Adam Ndlovu replaced Julius Ndlovu as assistant coach.
The legendary Adam Ndlovu’s tragically brief tenure as head coach followed in 2012, with Mandla Mpofu and Julius Ndlovu as his assistants. After Ndlovu’s untimely passing in December 2012, Mpofu stepped up as head coach in 2013, initially assisted by Ndlovu and Sikhumbuzo Banda. In June that year, Mkhuphali Masuku joined as assistant, with Ndlovu returning to his goalkeeping role and Banda moving to the developmental side. However, both Mpofu and Masuku resigned later that year, paving the way for Joey Antipas.
Antipas took charge for the final ten matches of 2013, foreshadowing his longer tenure. In 2014, Prince Matore joined as first assistant, with Banda as second assistant and Ndlovu resuming his previous role.
Antipas and Matore’s successful partnership (2014–2015), which included the 2015 PSL title, was interrupted in 2016 by the arrival of Rahman Gumbo as head coach and Thulani Sibanda as assistant. Sibanda’s stint was short-lived, departing in 2017 while Gumbo remained. This constant reshuffling highlights the club’s struggle to establish a coherent, long-term technical vision.
Amid this managerial carousel, one figure has remained a constant: Joey Antipas. After his brief 2013 stint, he returned for a more impactful spell from 2014–2015. However, it is his return in 2018 that marks his most enduring — and perhaps most contentious — presence. Antipas has remained involved in various capacities, including a brief elevation to Technical Director in 2023, with Matore taking charge, only for Antipas to return as head coach later that year. He continued through 2024, supported by assistant Fungai “Tostao” Kwashi. Tirivaviri Sithole served as goalkeepers’ coach from 2018–2019, and since 2020, the coaching team has included Matore, Farai Tawachera, and Energy Murambadoro alongside Antipas.
Where Antipas was once seen as a saviour, guiding the team through its golden years, his prolonged tenure now risks becoming a burden. While leadership continuity can be beneficial, an overly extended stay without renewed success can lead to stagnation.
The club’s repeated reliance on Antipas — despite bringing in other coaches who were later dismissed — suggests an inability or unwillingness to innovate beyond his methods. This was further underscored by Kwashi’s reassignment to head the Zifa Bulawayo Province Division Two side’s technical department. The club’s dependence on a single figure, despite his highs and lows, may be stifling the fresh ideas and bold strategies needed to elevate Chicken Inn to sustained success.
30 rounds into the current season, Chicken Inn’s woes have reached a critical point. The GameCocks appear adrift — rudderless and lacking direction on the pitch. They have 33 points and have been plunged into the relegation dogfight. This sorry situation appears to be the direct consequence of the club’s persistent reliance on a single approach. The glory days of 2015 now feel like a distant memory, as Chicken Inn finds itself in turbulent waters, desperately seeking a clear path forward.
Ultimately, the source of this crisis is the club’s inability to foster long-term technical innovation. The consistent corporate support from Innscor/Simbisa Brands ensures a stable front office, yet this has only highlighted the failure of the executive to find a technical path forward beyond the constant shuffling and subsequent over-reliance on one man.
The Antipas enigma has resolved itself into a state of stagnation. Chicken Inn’s turbulent season places them in the relegation zone, a shocking fall from grace.
The club must now confront the difficult choice: innovate and survive, or cling to the past and face an inevitable, humiliating drop.
