Online Reporter
Stanford Chiwanga and Howard Musonza
ONCE the pride of Bulawayo football after Highlanders, Chicken Inn Football Club, affectionately known as the GameCocks now finds itself clinging to echoes of former glory. From PSL champions in 2015 to a team struggling to win at home in 2025, the dramatic arc of Chicken Inn’s journey is as cautionary as it is captivating.
Their title winning campaign a decade ago was spearheaded by none other than Joey Antipas, a man whose name remains synonymous with Chicken Inn’s golden era. Back then, the club had swagger, discipline, and tactical ruthlessness. But those days feel increasingly distant, as turmoil and inconsistency have replaced the stability that once defined one of Bulawayo’s most competitive teams in the PSL.
“It’s been a bumpy ride,” Antipas told Zimpapers Sports Hub in a candid interview. “The first few years were great, we were competitive, and players actually wanted to come to Chicken Inn. But now it’s really difficult. We’ve lost so much quality and haven’t replaced it. We’re rebuilding, but it’s tough.”
While the GameCocks have remained within striking distance of the league’s upper echelons over the years, finishing runners-up in 2019 and 2021/22, and securing top four finishes multiple times, the rot has been steadily setting in. The club’s coaching bench, once a symbol of tactical stability, has become a revolving door.
Since Philani Ncube’s tenure in 2010–2011, Chicken Inn has cycled through a dizzying carousel of coaches: Adam Ndlovu, Mandla Mpofu, Mkhuphali Masuku, Rahman Gumbo, Prince Matore and always, somewhere in the mix, Joey Antipas.
He was first appointed in 2013, won the title in 2015, went to South Africa and returned from after coaching AmaZulu, then was shuffled between head coach, technical director, and adviser roles.
Each transition came with upheaval. After Antipas departed for AmaZulu, Gumbo took over but couldn’t sustain momentum. When Antipas returned in 2018, he began rebuilding again. In 2023, however, he was barred from sitting on the bench due to new Caf licensing requirements and replaced by assistant Prince Matore, who had to navigate the team through turbulent waters. That season, Chicken Inn finished seventh.
“The licensing issue wasn’t by choice,” Secretary General Tawengwa Hara told Zimpapers Sports Hub. “Zifa and the PSL demanded coaches with Caf A licenses. Antipas didn’t have one at the time, so we had to adjust. But I admit now, we were stagnant. We didn’t evolve beyond Joey. We thought we had our guy, and that was it.”
The club’s inability to refresh both its technical department and player roster has been costly. Antipas laments the exodus of stars like Danny Phiri, Divine Lunga, Teenage Hadebe, and Mitchell Katsvairo. More recently, Chicken Inn lost Richard Hachiro, Brett Amidu, Malvin Gaki, and Shepherd Mhlanga, players who left seeking better pay elsewhere.
“You lose players of that quality, and if you can’t replace them, you stagnate,” Antipas said. “We’ve tried bringing in young talent, but Division One players take time to adjust to the Premier League. And when you’re cost cutting like we are, it’s hard to attract proven names.”
Hara echoed the concern, saying: “We are now looking ourselves in the mirror and saying this is not us. We’ve created a target, and our sponsors know it. Innscor and Simbisa are not losers. They expect to be at the top.”
Recruitment has shifted from acquiring established stars to developing from within, though the club admits it has struggled. “We used to bring players from our juniors like Divine Lunga and Lawrence Mhlanga straight into the senior team,” said Hara. “Now we can’t do that because our junior team is stuck in Division Two. We’ve lost that pipeline.”
Even so, Antipas believes the solution lies in renewed investment and faith in development. “It’s not a good feeling, but we have to push on,” he said. “We need to fight hard, be strong in this difficult moment, and get Chicken Inn playing well again.”
This afternoon could prove pivotal. Chicken Inn faces high flying league newcomers Scottland at Rufaro Stadium. The new boys are second on the log, stacked with elite talent like Khama Billiat and Walter Musona, names the GameCocks can no longer afford.
“It would be great if we pick up a positive result,” said Antipas. “But it’s tough. This season, the league is very competitive, lots of goalless draws, a shortage of clinical strikers and creative midfielders. If we can match Scottland with work rate, maybe we can turn things around.”
Can Chicken Inn begin their long climb back to relevance? Find out this afternoon.
Don’t just read about the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League, watch it live on our sister channel ZTN Prime (DStv Channel 294)!
This week’s action kicks off with Chicken Inn’s showdown against Scottland at Rufaro Stadium. On Saturday, watch Green Fuel face table toppers MWOS live from Chisumbanje. Wrap up the weekend on Sunday as Triangle take on Manica Diamonds at Gibbo Stadium.
Broadcast starts at 2:30 PM. Be part of the action, only on ZTN Prime!
