Online Reporter
Fungai Muderere, Zimpapers Sports Hub
FORMER Warriors and Chicken Inn holding midfielder Tafadzwa Kutinyu is set for another dance at the Gamecocks, this time off the pitch, with Zimpapers Sports Hub establishing that he is in line for a role as the club’s Performance and Data Analyst.
Kutinyu, who enjoyed playing stints in Tanzania and Guinea, was forced to bring his football career to a halt in 2024 after a persistent nose injury. The problem required two surgeries and ultimately pushed the 33-year-old into early retirement from professional football.
Chicken Inn president Lifa Ncube said the club was still finalising its technical structure and stopped short of confirming Kutinyu’s appointment.
“We are still in the process of announcing our technical team. So far we have announced who will be our head coach (Tonderai Ndiraya), first assistant (Naison Muchekela) and second assistant (Fortune Fokoza Ncube).
“While we are waiting for our head coach to come back from Spain, we cannot confirm nor deny that Tafadzwa Kutinyu will be with us as our performance and data analyst. Anyway, we will announce everything next week,” said Ncube, who has previously told Zimpapers Sports Hub the club is intent on re-energising its technical department.
After the injury setback that ended his 2024 season, Kutinyu moved quickly to redefine himself within the game. He embraced a new chapter as a performance and data analyst at Tanzania’s Singida Stars, where he became part of a technical team that helped drive the club’s progress.
His work at Singida Stars was credited with contributing to improved performances in the Tanzanian league, underlining a smooth transition from player to analyst.
Kutinyu played for Singida United in Tanzania from 2017 to 2018 before turning out for Azam FC between 2018 and 2019. He then moved to Guinea in 2019 to join Horoya AC.
Before his return to Chicken Inn as a player, the soft spoken midfielder had spells with Bantu Rovers and Notwane in Botswana, building a reputation as a disciplined and reliable holding midfielder.
He was part of Chicken Inn’s 2015 championship winning side that included Danny “Deco” Phiri, George Majika, Guide Goddard, Clemence Matawu, Passmore Bernard, Lawrence Mhlanga, Devine Lunga and Thomas Chimenya.
That team was guided by Joey Antipas and Prince Matore, both of whom are no longer part of the Gamecocks’ technical set up. Antipas recently made way for two-time championship winning coach Ndiraya, while Matore is now at Castle Lager Premier Soccer League newcomers Hardrock as first assistant to Zambian gaffer Kelvin Kaindu.
After parting ways with Chicken Inn, Matore joined Kwekwe United and played a key role in their promotion to the PSL at the end of 2024. Last season, he was in charge of Sheasham in the Zifa Central Region.
