Gamecocks players cry foul

Veronica Gwaze

Zimpapers Sports Hub

IT was supposed to be a lifeline, the mid-season transfer window offering Chicken Inn a chance to breathe new life into a faltering campaign.

But as July 1 approaches, the Bulawayo-based side find themselves entangled in off-field turmoil, with some disillusioned players, with contractual grey areas, and growing accusations of betrayal threatening to fracture the squad’s unity.

Veteran players claim they have been left out in the cold.

Club officials insist they are managing a delicate balance of contracts, injuries, and mid-season registration limits.

Somewhere in between lies the truth, and perhaps the soul of a club now under siege from within.

At the centre of it all is goalkeeper Issah Ali, whose career has hit a painful pause.

Ali, who joined Chicken Inn last year from Yadah Stars, suffered a leg injury in September while training with the squad.

Since then, he hasn’t played a game, but what stings more than the injury is what came after.

 According to sources close to the player, Ali has not received his salary for six months, despite a binding contract running through to December 2025.

“We haven’t been paid for months, and in Ali’s case, it’s been six,” said one senior player.

“He got injured playing for Chicken Inn, and now he’s on his own.”

The club, however, paint a far more complex picture.

Gamecocks secretary-general Tawengwa Hara told Zimpapers Sports Hub that Ali’s situation has been anything but straightforward.

“Ali has a lot of handlers. We’ve tried to negotiate with him, even offered a three-month pay out, but he keeps coming back with new managers, new demands,” Hara said.

“He’s a young man being misled. We’re still open to resolving the matter. But it’s hard when the goalposts keep shifting.”

Hara acknowledged that a communication lapse may have contributed to the current standoff but denied the player was abandoned.

“He refused the salary package we offered. He wanted to first assess how his leg was healing. That’s fine, but let’s not paint it like we turned our backs on him,” Hara said.

The club also denies claims that Ali’s injury predated his arrival, although insiders say that narrative surfaced only after a proposed move to TelOne fell through following a failed medical.

“We did scans, we supported him through the process, but then he came back with a new manager and fresh demands. That’s where things stalled,” Hara explained.

The Ali case may be the most visible, but he is not alone in feeling sidelined.

Long-serving goalkeeper Pride Zendera, on Chicken Inn’s books since 2011, was also told at the start of the season that he was no longer in the club’s immediate plans.

 Rather than release him outright, the club offered him an off-field role, in coaching, administration, or support staff.

“We said, ‘You’ve served this club, we want to keep you around, just in a new capacity.’ He declined, which we respect,” Hara said.

“But we have to be realistic. Only 30 players can be registered. We can’t afford to keep someone on the books who’s not playing.”

A similar conversation was held with former captain Danny “Deco” Phiri, who returned to Chicken Inn after a stint at Bulawayo Chiefs. After suffering an injury in just his second appearance, the club proposed a role in the technical team, but Phiri still wanted to play, and eventually moved to Gwanda Pirates.

“There’s nothing malicious here,” Hara added.

 “We’re trying to transition senior players respectfully, but not everyone agrees with the direction.”

As the transfer window looms, Hara confirmed that the club has received a shortlist of targets from the technical team, but any moves will be minimal.

“We can only register five new players for mid-season. We’ll bring in one or two, and release the same number. The real overhaul will come at the end of the season.”

Still, the club’s off field headaches risk spilling into the dressing room at a critical time.

Some players, feeling pushed out or left behind, are considering legal action. Others have gone silent, waiting to see how the club will handle this uncertain stretch.

For Chicken Inn, a club that once boasted a league title, continental aspirations, and a reputation for professionalism, the coming weeks will be telling.

Can they steady the ship, rebuild the squad, and mend the growing rift with disillusioned players?