The Toronto-based “Chola” has teamed up with France 1998 FIFA World Cup winner, ZinedineZidane in junior football development in Canada. Choto is the coach of an under-18 team there.
He said this week he was determined to rope the three-time world footballer of the year, who is of Algerian origin, into developing the game in Zimbabwe and Africa.
“I am impressed by his development work. I would like to have him help turn our own young players into great footballers,” said Choto. “I want to see more of our players moving abroad so that they improve the standard of our national team.”
Also focused on further improving his coaching qualifications, Choto is on the verge of acquiring a B Licence that will allow him to coach in the Canadian Soccer League (CSL) and the Major soccer League (MLS) in the USA.
He is also willing to work in Brazil and Spain as he regards their football mother bodies to be excellent.
Choto reckons that our junior football needs a complete make-over.
“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,” he said.
He has plans for Glen Norah, where he grew up.
“Glen Norah is home of soccer. I want to plough back to that community, which nurtured my soccer career by assisting youths who want to play abroad with scholarships and setting them up with clubs.”
Choto begin his Caps United career with the Under-16 team in 1980. He graduated to the reserve team in 1984. He played for the first team between 1986 and 1987, before he was loaned out to Darryn T in 1988.
“Competition was very high and to just wear that green jersey was a privilege one had to work very hard for.
Playing for even in the reserve team was and making the bench was a big deal.”
At Darryn T, he played with the now late Gift Mpariwa, TakesureMaverengo, Ian Mharapara, James Matora and Joseph Tembo before returning to Makepekepe to assist Freddy Mkwesha as a player scout.
He won a few trophies with Caps and as part of the Blackpool technical department with ShackyTauro and Joel Shambo (both late) as a reserve team coach.
Post published in: Football