Chicken Inn beat Eland Rovers 1-0 in Bulawayo KitAid tournament

Chicken Inn began the Majinkila Hope Foundation and KitAid soccer tournament with a 1-0 victory over Eland Rovers at Njube Ground in Bulawayo on Sunday. The match was the first round-robin fixture of the junior competition.

The result gives Chicken Inn an early win in a tournament involving nine teams. Eland Rovers, meanwhile, began their campaign with a narrow defeat, after a match decided by a single goal.

Chicken Inn’s development side is coached by former Zimbabwe international Danny Phiri alongside Ben Nyahunzvi. Their involvement adds experience to a competition focused on junior football in Bulawayo and the identification of young players.

The tournament was initiated by Thamsanqa Ndlovu and Lobengula United, with matches taking place at Lobengula and Njube. The event is also linked to KitAid’s continued support for youth development and women’s football in the region. Its organisers want to create opportunities for children to develop and for emerging Zimbabwean talent to be noticed.

Bulawayo’s junior league has a long record of producing players who went on to become prominent figures in Zimbabwean football. Its alumni include Madinda Ndlovu, Ephraim Chawanda, Agent Sawu, Misheck Sibanda, Isaac Riyano, Max Tshuma, Tito Paketh, Peter Nkomo and Peter Ndlovu.

Benjani Mwaruwari, Thabani Masawi, Gift Lunga Junior, Lloyd Jowa, Mpumelelo Dzowa, Mercedes Sibanda, Willard Khumalo, Rahman Gumbo, Tutani Moyo and Obey Sova are also among the players associated with that history. The latest tournament continues the effort to give young footballers in the region a platform, with Chicken Inn holding the first result after the opening game.