It was Sophie’s choice for Choto

DOUGLAS CHOTO has a difficult decision to make and he doesn’t seem to have lots of time.

With the African Club Championships weeks away, Zimbabwe’s representatives — University of Zimbabwe, Harare City and Support Unit — all want to bolster their squads and have come knocking at the Cyprus-based volleyball starlets’ door.

The games will be played in two phases with the ladies’ tournament scheduled for April 1-11 and men’s category slated for April 12-22.

And Choto has received offers from the locals.

“Some invites are still coming for me to join certain teams and national duty whether club or country, is something I always look forward to,” said Choto, who also plays beach volleyball.

“I am still to decide which team I will be joining for the Egypt tournament,” he said.

Choto recently graduated with a Bsc Degree in Civil Engineering from Cyprus International University and that was the first of two missions accomplished for him.

Ironically, this is not the first time that Choto has been faced with mind-boggling conundrums, a Sophie’s choice if you will.

At one point, he had to decide between choosing his late parents’ perception about life and following his dreams, which in this case, have always been volleyball.

To them success has always meant, getting an education.

But the volleyball gods had other plans. “I started playing volleyball in 2008 at Mazowe Boys High before proceeding to Cornway College for Advanced Level on a scholarship,” said Choto.

“Coaches Mr Muguto and Mr Makombe at Mazowe used to tour classes picking potential players based on height and hands, but never gave me a second look.

“That infuriated me as I had always been a natural sportsperson, playing soccer, cricket and athletics.

“I did not like being left out, and just decided to go to the courts, one day, and try my luck,” he said.

That was the beginning of Choto’s journey in volleyball.

He fell in love with volleyball and immediately abandoned football which he believed ran in his DNA.

His older brother, Dickson Choto, is renowned footballer having played for Legia Warsaw and also the founder of DC

Academy.

His parents even talked him off the court, but their attempts were futile.

Determined, the then setter joined Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe (CAAZ) Volleyball Club before moving to Zimpost.

Later he joined Stanbic Thunder where he was transformed into an outside hitter.

In 2014, after the passing of his mother Juliana, Choto got a scholarship to study for a degree in Civil Engineering in Cyprus.

He had no choice than pursue his parents’ dream.

At university he would secretly play volleyball, until his father found out through the internet.

“He (dad) saw pictures on social media and soon had a change of heart (and) just encouraged me to balance both.

“I also matured, and I learnt to balance the two,” he said.

It is during the varsity games that he was identified and signed by a Cyprus team Vakiflar Spor Kulubu (Vakiflar Sports Club), a club he has been with for four years now. His father became a fan not long after. But sadly he, too, passed on back in 2018. “He just started motivating me to balance both, which is exactly what I did.

“After graduating, I feel it is mission accomplished.

“I have fulfilled my parents’ wish and now I can pursue my volleyball dreams,” he added.

Choto currently has more than 20 accolades under his belt and he feels ready for national duty at the African Club championships.