Chicken Inn player biographies

Mpumelelo Thabo Bhebhe (23) has in the last three seasons risen to being one of the best centre-backs in the country.

He is reliable, hard to beat both in the air and ground. Is a ball player who initiates attacks from the back and reads the game well. He has just returned from the US where things did not go well and has asserted his importance to the Gamecocks set-up by returning to the starting lineup.

Formerly with Bantu Rovers and Bulawayo City where in 2022 Philani Ncube gave him his debut coincidentally against Highlanders and he stood firm. Has dreams of playing abroad.

Leeroy Ndlovu (23) a right-footed attacking midfielder who prefers playing on the wing. Was with Arenel in their PSL ticket winning season. He dreams of being an inspiration to the next generation of stars and is eager to play for the national team. He was one of the key players at Arenel.

Irvine Munkombwe (23) a central defensive midfielder who can also play as a right back. He has previously played for Arenel Movers on loan from Chicken Inn. He was an integral part of the Arenel team that won last year’s Zifa Southern Region title without tasting defeat. At 23 age is still on his side, it won’t be easy getting a first team regular jersey as there are several players to contend with in that position.

Pride Zendera (32). Goalkeepers mature with age. He is a sure bet for cover in goal if first choice Donovan Bernard leaves or is called up for national duty. A right-footed goalie, Zendera has an athletic body and has played for Manzini Sundowns in Eswatini. Lifted the Independence Trophy with the club in 2016 and was part of the side that finished second in the league race that season.

He was around in 2019 when Chicken Inn were runners-up again. He won the Swaziland Telkom Cup with Sundowns in 2012. Treasures saving two penalty kicks in 2016 against ZPC Kariba where he scored the winning penalty to guide the team into the semi-finals of the NetOne Cup.

Albert Takudzwa Nyamutsaka (26). Joined the club from Gaborone United during this transfer-window. At over 1,8m tall, he is a tower in the team’s attack and has the pace and hustling physical presence to worry any defence. He is right footed and his size 11,5 boot tells all about his physique. He is expected to add weight, pace and aerial presence for crosses on the offensive. His dream is to win the PSL title and one day don Warriors colours. In Zimbabwe he has played for Mike Madoda and Barry Manandi’s Golden Eagles having graduated from the Eagles Academy.

Xolani Ndlovu (28). He has with time graduated to being a reliable left-footed defender. Quite effective and can be relied on. Has previously played for Zim Leopards owned by Kenny Ndebele and Tsholotsho FC. He still dreams of playing outside the country and his most memorable moment in the game was the goal he scored against Caps United in 2021.

Dominic Jaricha (27) Had a fantastic season in 2022 when switched to centreback at Bulawayo City. He has been with the Gamecocks since January last year. Has had limited game time because of competition from Itai Mabunu and Mpumelelo Bhebhe in central defence. He can also play as a defensive midfielder, a sports science graduate, he reads the game well but weakness is being slow attributed to his being plus 1,82m in height. Comfortable on the ground and one to be trusted in the air because of his height, Jaricha plays simple and basic football.

Innocent Mucheneka (33). One of the club’s oldest and most experienced players. A midfielder one can count on. A player who gives his all for the club’s cause. Combative defensively and enterprising in attack, the former Hwange and FC linkman is a matchwinner.

He is right-footed and has three caps for the Warriors. His honours include the Cosafa Cup in 2017, Premier League title with FC Platinum, Chibuku Super Cup in 2023 making him among the most decorated players in the side. He wants to win another title with Chicken Inn and other silverware.

Arthur Chinda (23) An exciting rightback who is trusted in defence and enterprising in attack. Quite skillful takes on opponents with so much ease and sends good crosses into the box. He is one for the future and rates among the best rightbacks in the League at the moment. He plays with both heart and brain and is a good investment and also testament of the good work being done by James Rugwevera’s Mposa Academy. He joins a list of several great names to come out of Mpopoma High School.

Licoln Mangaira (30). A typical ‘Mr Fixit’ who takes no prisoners. Solid in central defence and hard to intimidate and beat at about 1,78m, not so tall but has a good presence on the pitch and works so hard. He is in a pool of a very competitive group of central defenders and has to continue to work hard to keep himself among the top four centreback options in the side. He can also play on the wing and as a destroyer in midfield when push comes to shove. Has played for Buffaloes, Mutare City, Triangle and Caps United. Having crossed the 30s, he has to work hard to at least grab a piece of silverware before he retires in the next five years or so.

Kudzi Dzingwe (24) Just joined the team from Arenel. He is a rightback who showed so much potential while at Methembe Ndlovu’s Bantu Rovers and flourished under Mkhuphali Masuku at Talen Vision in 2019. Covid-19 affected his progression, he was tipped to go far with his career. Helped Arenel gain promotion last year and was a regular until his move. He will have to toughen up a bit and show the zeal he had earlier on in his career to dislodge Chinda at rightback. He has a decent cross and can improve in that aspect if he gives himself extra time. He brings healthy competition.

Joseph Tulani (27) A central midfielder who can be played in several positions. Good on and off the ball.He is a workaholic and the kind of player to have in one’s team as he tries to put 100 percent effort in every game he is fielded. Scores regularly from range. Started his professional career at relegated Mushowani some years ago and then moved to Caps United where up to last year he was a vital cog in the engineroom. He says he wants to play in Europe which is what is pushing him over the limit each time he takes to the pitch.

Miguel Feldman (21). A young skillful player who can be played on either side of the flanks as an attacking midfielder. Protects the ball well and is never afraid to take on opponents and with more game time he will rise to be among the best talents in Bulawayo. But with several options for every position at Chicken Inn, Feldman has to push himself over the limit and not be content with being a squad player.
He has played for Bulawayo Chiefs and Bantu Rovers and has gone through the hands of good development coaches in the city.

Alpha Chiwashiro (19). He is in the juniors quota. He can play as a right winger and the other position he is comfortable at is leftback. Like most players in the junior quota he must challenge himself to rise to be the next ‘Big Thing’ at the Gamecocks.

Genius Mutungamiri (24) Turned 24 yesterday. A good left winger who takes on defenders with so much ease. Quite creative and entertaining, once he turns them inside out one can anticipate a good cross or pass. He is never shy to try at goal and often finds himself on the scoresheet. So exciting he is when he goes to the right wing and cuts in and then tries to nab from range. It is about time he explodes and up his stakes among the best wingers in the land. He is an Entumbane boy who honed his skills at Israel Mbedzi’s FMSA before Philani Ncube gave him his Premiership break at Bulawayo City in 2022. He was among the team’s heroes as they made a near escape from relegation gaining 30 points in their last 20 games. His mother is his Number One fan and that drives him all the time to excel.

Brighton Makopa (25) A centre forward with everything. He is also comfortable playing as a second striker. Perhaps a question of attitude makes him an underachiever. He has pace. Ball control, dribbles well, runs into pockets with aplomb and a clinical finisher. Needs to work harder to add to the goals’ tally. After a campaign with Bulawayo City in 2022 and a good season that yielded eight goals for Hwange in 2023, Makopa has the future in his legs as a striker and has to work harder to fulfil his dream of playing overseas. He also played for Mposa Academy.

Elshamar Farasi (23) Former junior player at Bantu Rovers and part of the Bulawayo City Under-18 project of 2018/19 considered among the best development sides in recent years. Earlier on was at Bantu Rovers. Joined Chicken Inn early this season after a year’s stint with Highlanders. Plays as an attacking midfielder and can be played behind strikers, likes to float around the field and play make. Keeps on maturing on the field and works hard all the time, gives coach several options if in the match day squad. His weakness is probably his small frame and height as tends to be a clumsy marker and gets carded.

Brian ‘Maranda Express’ Muza (26). Striker. Is said to have run a sub 10,5 seconds 100m while at school. He is man at work and defenders that face him have a torrid time on the pitch as he is a busy bee with stamina. Has a good left foot and with more composure could score more goals. He has improved from his Talen Vision days and now can play one-two with teammates and even cross for someone to finish. Has a good work ethic and is ever prepared to die for the team, can even play with an injury to aid the team’s cause. He was among the Soccer Stars of the Year finalists last year. Should he continue to work harder, he might attract the attention of teams even from other countries. His combination with Michael Charamba is any defence’s nightmare.

Danny Phiri (35) Defensive midfielder. Taking him back from Bulawayo Chiefs last year was a masterstroke. The team needed guiding on the field, an experienced player who could manage things for the coaches on the field. A hard worker and tackler, Danny reads the game well and makes right decisions at the right time. A championship winner in 2015, capped at Under-20, Under-23 and senior national team over 30 times, Danny is a veteran of many battles. He was Chicken Inn’s first export when sold to Golden Arrows of South Africa in 2016. Signed from Railstars, he has played for Bantu Rovers, Railstars and Bulawayo Chiefs in Zimbabwe, Singida in Tanzania. A former Soccer Star of the Year and NetOne Cup winner, he is a true club legend.

Brendon Rendo (27). Utility player. Kicks with both feet and can be played any position except in goal. He is the grandson of Wankie and football legend Amos Rendo. Very good technical player who plays it simple and still harbours playing outside the country. Has played for Tsholotsho, Mainline of Plumtree, Bosso90 and Hwange whom he left at the beginning of the year after fulfilling his dream of getting his granddad’s former club promoted to the Premiership and left them stable after surviving first year on return.

Itai Mabunu (27) A towering centreback who at 1,88m is the tallest player at the club. His presence instils aerial fear to the opposition as he gets all the high balls. Has often come in handy in set pieces where he has moved into attack and scored. Was capped at Under-17 level in 2012, then his development took a detour until Brian Moyo signed him at Talen Vision in 2019 and has been on the rise and fans like his cross-leg clearances and the dying lob he sends into attack. He says he wants to work hard, get Chicken Inn to win things and move abroad. He played for Highlanders juniors, ZRP Bulawayo and Talen Vision.

Michael Charamba (28). Striker. Loves Chicken Inn FC. They brought him to Bulawayo with an injury, nursed him and helped him rediscover himself on the pitch after arriving from Ngezi Platinum. A pacy winger who can play as a right wingback as well is a former bronze medalist in schools national finals. The speed merchant and Brian Muza have been terrorising defences for fun. He is at the prime of his career and his two appearances on the Castle Lager Soccer Stars of the Year list are testimony of his pedigree and has won the Chibuku Super Cup with Ngezi and has one Warriors cap.

Donovan Bernard (29). It is a pity that the talent that he is, has not yet won anything on the domestic scene. Arguably the best goalminder in the country, agile, confident, good ball handling skills and foot work, Bernard deserves to have left the local league for greener pastures. He is also a big boy, imposing between the goalposts and is a product of the famed Aces Academy. Has had stints with Motor Action, How Mine and Ngezi Platinum. Has been capped at all levels for his country. Alongside Tatenda Mukuruva now playing lower division football in the US, they were touted as the next pair of Warriors goalkeepers for the next decade and a half.

George Majika (31) Left winger. Can also play behind strikers. Coincidentally an Entumbane lad like his competitor Genius Mutungamiri. A club veteran, who was inspired by Mighty Warriors, Inline and New Orleans Nobuhle Majika, brothers Thomas and Moses. Won the league title with Chicken Inn in 2015, league runner up twice and has one national team call up of 2016. When on song he is a matchwinner with his workrate and creativity.

Tafadzwa Kutinyu (29) Midfielder. League winner with Chicken Inn, has played for Caps juniors, Power Masters, Bantu Rovers and had a trial at Club Brugge in Belgium before joining the Gamecocks. He is a former Warriors player and played for Singada and Azam in Tanzania and also featured for Horoya of Guinea. Has caps for his country at Under-20, Under-23 and Warriors having been to the Chan and Afcon finals. Just returned to the first team after injury forced club to leave him out in the first half of the championship. He could be behind the club’s turn around if he gels well with the rest of the team.

Nielson Ketala (28) Leftback. He is part of the competitive Chicken Inn left back. He can also play at centreback. There is very good competition among the players at the club, a slip throws another player the initiative to claim a place in the first team. He is a battle-hardened warrior and at 28 he has maturity as one of his strengths. He is a former Ngezi Platinum Stars player. He treasures playing abroad and representing Zimbabwe.
He considers lifting the 2016 Chibuku Super Cup as the peak of his career.

Brandon Mpofu (23) Leftback. A few years ago, Brandon was touted as the next best leftback in the country. He has not lived up to it. At 23 all hope has not been lost on him. He needs his confidence back and accept that moves to Caps United and Dynamos did not yield the desired result. He is back home where it all started at Real Stars, Makokoba. If he regains his confidence, Brandon is a good all-round leftback. He should be a useful addition to the team.
He has been capped five times. His ambition is to win all tournaments and play good football to attract overseas scouts. He has age as a plus.