The Sunday Mail
Douglas Choto
Thomas Mangwiro – Sports Correspondent
WITH his brother Dickson earning some fortune and fame from a game that Pele christened the world’s most beautiful, Douglas Choto could have been swayed onto the football pitch.
However, a bold decision to take up volleyball appears to have set Douglas, the less famous of the Choto siblings, on a path to greatness.
The 20-year-old is regarded as the best volleyball player in the country at the moment, with a number of foreign clubs understood to be trailing him.
“He is a real talent, the best we have seen in a very long time. With a little bit of hard work Douglas can turn out to be a player the world will be talking about,” said a renowned volleyball coach.
Despite the rise in stock, Choto is keeping it cool.
“I have potential, yes, but that will count for nothing if I don’t work hard to fulfil it,” said the Support Unit man.
“My game has improved at Support Unit and much more is coming in the long run. The intensive training regime at Support Unit helps young players to improve their game.
“We have coaches Itsanang Abu-Basuthu and Donald Chademana who are helping me grow as a player.
“The mentorship I receive from local volleyball guru Martin Dururu has taken me to where I am today.”
Such is his immense talent that Choto made his national team debut at 17.
“I was called in as a setter for the African Championships qualifiers that were held in Malawi in 2012.
“The team fared reasonably well, coming second, but that was not enough for us to qualify for the next stage.
“Making my national team debut was a dream come true . . . it also convinced me that I had made the right decision to choose volleyball ahead of football,” said Choto.
The fast-rising star started off as a setter at CAAZ, but evolved into a power hitter of repute after joining former champions Stanbic Thunder.
He won the league championship with Stanbic Thunder in 2013 before crossing the floor to Support Unit last season.
Choto is enjoying his game at the police outfit.
Standing at 1,92 metres and weighing 79,6 kg, the boy is an imposing figure who is scooping medals regularly.
He captained the Harare Under-20 side to gold at the 2014 National Youth Games before representing the national Under-21 team at the FIVB World Championships Beach Volleyball Zonal competition in Portugal.
Choto is also part of the national Beach Volleyball team that is set to take part at the Africa Games in Congo-Brazzaville later this year.
His main attributes are his high jump, reach and powerful hit. Despite coming from a “soccer family”, Choto enjoys immense support at home.
“They are very supportive; whenever I travel they always implore me to bring back a medal,” said the volleyball ace whose other brother Farai is skipper at Northern Region Division One side DC Academy.
DC Academy is owned by Dickson Choto.
