DARLINGTON CHOTO –  SOCCER LEGEND DETERMINED TO DEVELOP THE MOST BEAUTIFUL GAME BACK HOME

DARLINGTON CHOTO

SOCCER LEGEND DETERMINED TO DEVELOP THE MOST BEAUTIFUL GAME BACK HOME

By Tapfuma Machakaire   13/2/2023

Soccer legends are judged by their impact during their hay days on the pitch, utilising all their tricks for entertainment, victory and winning coveted silverware.

Upon retirement, the more ambitious players proceed to try their luck in coaching. Some just fizzle away with others ageing and dying in destitution.

Very few have ventured into the development of “the most beautiful game” as they reminisce over their glory days.

In September 2022 a local publication, The Zimbabwean, wrote that they had discovered a former Caps United star of the eighties, Darlington Choto, now based in Toronto, Canada. He is among those with an agenda to invest in the development of the game back home.

“He has been hiding for some time, but following your inquiries, we bring you former Caps United defender, Darlington Choto,” read the report.

The Zimbabwean revealed that Choto had teamed up with French professional football manager and former player now one of the most successful coaches in the world,  Zinedine Zidane, in a programme to promote development of junior football in Zimbabwe and the entire African continent.

In an interview with 1ZimLegends Choto said the Zidane project is currently on hold pending the completion of feasibility studies.

Meanwhile Choto says he is working with his close mate former Warriors goalkeeper, Bruce Grobbelaar aka the Jungleman, to establish a strong junior soccer promotion programme in Harare and Bulawayo.

“Bruce wants to give back to Bulawayo since he started his career with Highlanders football club while I want to concentrate on high density suburbs of Harare where I began my career,” said Choto.

He said for the Harare project, former Caps United player Steve Ngwato has been appointed as the coordinator, while his counterpart for Bulawayo is yet to be identified.

“Junior football policy made great players. Teams won because there was an environment of togetherness, unity, responsibility and accountability from early stages among the players,” said Choto who was identified from the high density suburb of Glen Norah to play for Caps United through its junior policy programme.

Choto who was popularly known as Chola said his career started when he was doing grade six in Glen Norah inspired by a teacher named Charles Mtetwa who was also a soccer player. At home there was interest in the game as Choto’s father was an ardent supporter of Mashonaland United now Zimbabwe Saints based in Bulawayo.

Chola joined a club in Glen Norah Township which was called Young Rollers. He recalls the team received support from the mother of former cabinet Minister Francis Nhema who donated a soccer kit to the club.

“Mai Nhema wanted to take youths out of the streets by creating an activity to give them something to do,” said Choto.

Among his colleagues in the team were David Bhali, Francis and George Nechironga, Burzil Chisoko, Benjamin Mpofu, Oscar Motsi and Austin Farai.

He said one day Obediah Sarupinda then coach of Caps United who had heard about the club came to Glen Norah and took the boys to join Caps United juniors.

“We developed from there. Caps United was one of the best institutions of football at that time. Imagine us as youths coming to Caps and watching Stix Mtizwa, Charles Torindo, Shackman Tauro, Friday Phiri, Stanley Ndunduma and Charles Sibanda, players we used to admire as kids.”

As a young boy Chola used to admire Phelemon Dangarembwa and Ephraim Dzimbiri among other good players. At school he played as a goal keeper but when he was asked at Caps United what position he favoured he chose to play right back.

“I liked a position where I could overplay and consolidate with the whole team.”

He said as juniors at Caps, the boys from Glen Norah enjoyed a lot of support from the team “There was so much support in the junior development programme from the chairman to the board to the players. Sarupinda who was popularly known as Wasu trained us until some of us went to play for the first team. He motivated us and he was like a father to us.”

Choto rose from playing for the Under-16 team in 1980 graduating to the reserve team in 1984. He played for the first team between 1986 and 1987.“Those days competition was very high and to just wear that green jersey was a privilege. One had to work very hard for it. Playing for even the reserve team was an achievement and making it to the bench was a big deal.”

In 1988 Choto was loaned to Cone Textiles where he was signed in by Coach Shepard Murape. He played as a right back with Gift Mpariwa, Takesure Maverengo, Ian Mharapara, Craft Mukuvatsine, James Matora and Joseph Tembo before returning to Makepekepe after a year to assist Freddy Mkwesha as a player scout.

Choto was later requested by Joel Shambo and Shacky Tauro to join the coaching department at Blackpool. He says those were the days when Blackpool had become one of the best clubs.

“We won the league and a cup. We proceeded to play in the African Champions Cup although we did not go that far.”

The team had players that include George Mbwando, Stewart Murisa, Alois Bunjira, Joseph Dube, Earnest Chirambadare, Collins Kabote and Masimba Dinyero.

Choto is a strong believer in harnessing the expertise of former stars. In September 2022 he gave an interview in which he called for more respect for Grobbelaar.

“Former footballers do not get the honour that they deserve in Zimbabwe. Look at Grobbelaar, and all that he has achieved playing for Liverpool and Zimbabwe as well,’’ bemoaned Choto.

“Fine, we did not qualify for the World Cup and the Africa Cup of Nations when he was still a player but he was very committed to the cause.”

Choto believes Zimbabwe would benefit a lot with a person like Grobbelaar in its structures. “Making him a sports ambassador, or offering him any position, would help Zimbabwean sport in a big way because of his experience. “There is so much to learn from these people who have played at the top, he said

He said Bruce’s love for Zimbabwe is undoubted and he offered to help the country. “I remember when I went to Anfield, the home of Liverpool, and met his former teammate and manager, Graham Souness, who also confirmed Bruce’s love for Zimbabwe.”

Choto says he is in touch with many former Caps United players of his time through a Whatsapp group in which they discuss developments at the club. The group members also discuss the nature of business they are now involved in.

He said the members try hard to help former colleagues who have fallen on hard times back home

Among those who received assistance was the Friday Phiri. Choto who is focusing on further improving his coaching qualifications is on the verge of acquiring a B Licence that will allow him to coach in the Canadian Soccer League and the Major soccer League in the United States of America. The partnering of two legends Jungleman and Chola to assist upcoming stars back home should tickle other Zimbabweans in the diaspora who have the capacity to match or do even better than the former soccer giants.