Online Reporter
Lovemore Dube, Zimpapers Sports Hub
FELIX CHINDUNGWE, one of the few players to have donned both Chicken Inn and Highlanders colours, holds fond memories of representing both clubs. He describes playing for Highlanders as carrying an extra weight of expectation, surrounded by a passionate and demanding fan base.
“When you play for Chicken Inn, your next-door neighbour is a Highlanders fan. The whole street, the shops, even the minibus — everyone supports Bosso. They start taunting you as early as Monday when the fixture is announced. That team is something else — it’s a movement. People love it,” said Chindungwe.
He recalled how mental strength was essential during his time at Chicken Inn, especially when facing Highlanders.
“You have to be mentally strong to deal with the pressure, knowing that a win could upset your closest family, neighbours and the community you live in. Even the taxi ride home after the match wouldn’t be pleasant,” he said.
Chindungwe spent four seasons with the Gamecocks, working under coaches Philani Ncube, the late Adam Ndlovu and Mandla Mpofu. He credited the club’s spirit of unity as key to preparing for derby matches.
“The morning in camp ahead of the fixture was crucial. We’d play heading tennis to psyche ourselves up. You could tell from body language who wasn’t mentally ready and needed encouragement.
“Eventually, we learned to read each other and lift one another’s spirits. The coaches were instrumental in mental preparation too.
“They’d say their job ended on Friday after taking us through tactical drills from Tuesday to Friday. What remained was for us, the players, to deliver. Like any derby, it was a self-motivating game,” he said.
During his time at Chicken Inn, Chindungwe earned over a dozen national caps and featured on the Soccer Stars of the Year calendar. His most memorable match was a 1–0 victory over Highlanders in 2012, with Kuda Mahachi scoring the winner.
“We had travelled with the national team to Tanzania and returned on the eve of the derby. At 8pm, Mandla Mpofu called to check if we were fit. We confirmed and joined camp. Our teammates were surprised to see us in the morning and that lifted morale. We went on to beat Highlanders 1–0,” he recalled.
He described the unity at Chicken Inn as exceptional, saying players socialised together and were willing to go the extra mile for one another.
After his contract expired, Chindungwe moved to Highlanders, where he spent three years and won the NetOne Cup, ZNA Charities Shield, Independence Cup and finished as league runners-up. He also featured in the Royal Cup against Botswana clubs.
At Bosso, he formed solid defensive partnerships with Tendai Ndlovu, Eric Mudzingwa and a rising Peter Muduhwa, whose arrival saw Chindungwe shift to midfield.
Playing for Highlanders, he said, was a unique experience filled with pressure and pride.
“Wherever you are, it’s different. People want great things for you and their club. They live and breathe Bosso. They’re always encouraging you, no matter where you are. I enjoyed the feeling, but being part of the team for the derby was something else,” he said.
Facing Chicken Inn as a Highlanders player was challenging, he admitted, as many of his former teammates knew his strengths and weaknesses.
“I’d tell my Bosso teammates that I was under pressure. Fortunately, they supported me and helped me stay focused and perform at my best,” he said.
On Highlanders, he said: “It’s a big club with a big atmosphere. You feel the love from fans for playing for the badge. It’s unlike playing for any other team.”
Chindungwe also played for Hwange and Railstars and is regarded as one of the finest centre-backs to emerge from Bulawayo in the past two decades, with his achievements at both Bosso and Chicken Inn as testament. He fondly remembered the passionate Soweto and Empankweni crowds, saying their energy lifted the team’s spirits.
“When they were shouting at us or down because of the result, we’d try to up the tempo and get them behind us.
“Highlanders is fantastic to play for, and having that crowd behind you is something else. There’s no better team to play for than Highlanders,” he said. Chindungwe is now coaching Mpumalanga Chiefs in the Matabeleland North Division Two League and holds preliminary coaching badges.
