Lifa Ncube: The Man Who Helped Build Chicken Inn FC Into a Zimbabwean Football Powerhouse

When the story of Chicken Inn FC is told, one name will always stand out among the architects of the club’s success — Lifa Ncube.

For more than two decades, Ncube has been one of the most influential figures behind the scenes at the Gamecocks, helping transform the club from a modest lower-division side into one of Zimbabwe’s most respected football institutions.

His journey with Chicken Inn dates back to the club’s formative years. In 2005, when the team was still finding its identity after transitioning from Bakers Inn to Chicken Inn FC, Ncube became part of a leadership group determined to build something special for Bulawayo football.

The club’s rise was gradual but steady. Chicken Inn earned promotion to Division One in 2008 before embarking on an ambitious project aimed at reaching the Premier Soccer League. The breakthrough finally arrived in 2010 when the Gamecocks secured promotion to the PSL after a remarkable campaign.

At the time, chairman Lifa Ncube attributed the achievement to consistency, planning and experience — values that would become synonymous with the club under his leadership.

Promotion to the top flight was only the beginning.

Chicken Inn quickly established themselves as a competitive PSL side, becoming known for their professionalism, strong administration and ability to identify talented players and coaches.

The defining moment of Ncube’s tenure arrived in 2015.

That year, the Gamecocks wrote their names into Zimbabwean football history by winning their first-ever Castle Lager Premier Soccer League title. Chicken Inn finished the season with 61 points, winning 18 matches, drawing seven and losing only five.

The club dominated the end-of-season awards.

Captain Danny Phiri was crowned Soccer Star of the Year, Elvis Chipezeze won Goalkeeper of the Year, Edmore Chirambadare finished as the club’s leading scorer with 11 goals, while Joey Antipas was named Coach of the Year.

For Ncube, it was the reward for years of patience, investment and belief in the club's long-term vision.

The title victory elevated Chicken Inn from a competitive club to a recognised force in Zimbabwean football.

In January 2017, Ncube shocked many supporters when he announced his intention to resign as chairman after revealing that increasing work commitments and international travel would make it difficult for him to continue giving the club the attention it deserved.

Having served around 12 years as chairman, he felt it was the right time to step aside.

However, the club had other ideas.

Chicken Inn's leadership, together with stakeholders and directors, rejected his resignation and persuaded him to continue leading the club. The decision reflected the immense respect he had earned within the organisation and the belief that his leadership remained vital to the club’s future.

Beyond Chicken Inn, Ncube also played a significant role in Zimbabwean football administration.

His experience and leadership saw him rise to become Premier Soccer League vice-chairman, helping shape policy and governance within the country's top-flight league.

After years of service at both club and league level, Ncube stepped down from his PSL vice-chairman role in January 2025 following the expiry of his term of office.

Yet his connection with Chicken Inn never faded.

In February 2026, the club announced a new executive board as part of a restructuring exercise aimed at strengthening governance and rebuilding the club’s competitive edge.

At the centre of that new leadership structure was a familiar face.

Lifa Ncube returned as chairman.

The appointment symbolised both continuity and trust. More than two decades after helping shape the club’s early ambitions, Ncube was once again entrusted with guiding Chicken Inn into a new era.

Today, his legacy extends far beyond trophies and league positions.

He is widely regarded as one of the administrators who helped build Chicken Inn into a respected football brand, overseeing its journey from the lower divisions to PSL champions while maintaining stability, professionalism and ambition throughout the years.

Few administrators remain associated with one club for such a long period. Even fewer leave such a lasting impact.

From the club’s rise through the divisions, to the historic 2015 championship triumph, to his return as chairman in 2026, Lifa Ncube’s story is inseparable from the story of Chicken Inn FC itself.

For many Gamecocks supporters, he is not simply a chairman.

He is one of the builders of the Chicken Inn legacy.

In his speech during the kit unveiling ahead of the new season, he delivered his closing remarks:

“This is our year. Let’s write our story together. The Chicken will cross the road.”