Sundaymail EditorTinashe Kusema
Deputy Sports Editor
IN these times of strife, pandemics and lockdowns, every sport needs a character like Innocent Choga — someone who is not only a champion, but carries himself like one.
Someone with the weight and the guts to talk and have people listen.
And as a six-time Mr Zimbabwe champion — the youngest in the history of the sport — and a National Federation of Zimbabwe Bodybuilding and Fitness (NFZBBF) Hall of Famer, the 54-year-old certainly fits the bill, and boy does he have a lot to say.
It is now eight years since Choga called time on a career that spanned over two decades, but he has remained attached to the sport and remains passionate about it.
Choga is in the process of compiling snippets and anecdotes from his career, which he intends to include in his yet-to-be-titled autobiography.
“Over the years, I have developed a passion for writing, research and a new-found appreciation for sport in general.
“I am actually in the process of writing a couple of books, one of which will be an autobiography,” said Choga.
“I do not want my children, or any of my descendants for that matter, to hear distorted history, and (I) would prefer they hear it from the horse’s mouth, so to speak.
“The other book called ‘Weight Training for Every Body’ will not just be an instruction book, but an alignment of my 40 years of weight training experience, and my recently acquired Physical Education knowledge,” he said.
Choga, however, is not considering a comeback as he is content with what he achieved.
“I have been retired for a long time and I do not have the urge to compete again. I have not been weight training as religiously as before, but I always go back to the gym regularly and even then I do not lift heavy weights like I used to.
“I am still very active, though; when I am not going to the gym, I exercise regularly without weights and monitor what I eat.
“For a person my age, I think I am very fit and carry the appropriate weight for my frame.”
He, however, has some regrets.
“Being suspended twice for flimsy reasons in 1991 and in 1996 is one of the blemishes on my career.
“Competitively, I can’t really say I have regrets, as I am happy and content with what I managed to achieve during my years on the stage.
“Obviously, when I was young I used to dream of winning the Olympia (the highest professional bodybuilding title), but that dream faded with time,” he said.
But it is a storied career that includes three Junior Iron Man titles, two Zimbabwe Junior Championships and six Zimbabwe Senior National Bodybuilding Championships that make him a legend in the sport.
He represented Zimbabwe at the World Championships in Australia, France and Malaysia.
He memorably was placed eighth out of competitors from 32 countries in Siberia, Russia, at the Tyumen Grand Prix.
Choga is also a former Namibian Open Championships winner and was inducted into the NFZBBF Hall of Fame in 2015.
The first national title and HOF induction rank second and third on his list of career highlights, with the former coming when he was only 22.
“My first win was inspired and kind of prophetic and I remember being so focused on that one goal.
“To commemorate it, I hung a poster in my room written ‘Innocent Choga (22) wins the National Championships’.
“Worldwide, winning the National Bodybuilding Championships at the age of 22 is considered a great feat in bodybuilding, as senior bodybuilding relies mostly on maturity.
“At 21, the capacity to build huge muscles is still low, so you would still belong to the junior ranks, and I defied all that,” he said.
The athlete still cherishes his HOF induction.
“It’s a great feeling to be recognised for anything that you do well, but I felt honoured that the bodybuilding community thinks highly of me.
“It gives validation to the work I put in and I would remiss if I did not thank those that helped me get here.
“I am thankful and feel indebted to the likes of legendary athletes like Bible Mhizha and the late George Takundwa who motivated me, my training partners Oliver Sabau (junior), Paul Chidzero (senior) and the officials who made it possible for me to achieve what I achieved.”
Choga also took time to thank Zimbabwe football legend Peter Ndlovu and Hollywood actress Sharon Stone — two people he met on his way up and gave him valuable words of advice.
His greatest achievement remains furthering his education.
The 54-year-old now holds a Diploma in Business Studies, a Bachelor of Science Honours in Physical Education and Sport Degree, including Part C CIS.
He also has a level two coaching certificate in badminton.
These have given him a brand new appreciation for sport, and in particular bodybuilding, which literally saved his life in 2018, when he was injured while playing social soccer.
“I was at a friends’ football team, PIMA. After a training session, I joined in a scrimmage match.
“I suppose I forgot my age and went down after trying to block a striker.
“I couldn’t get up, at first, and thought it was a mere dislocation . . . but it was worse.
“It was a tendon rapture and needed surgery.
“Many thought I was doomed because of my age, but thanks to the doctor, the physiotherapist, my employer, my exercise background and knowledge, I managed to recover.
“I still get sore here and there, but that has been minimised through regular exercise.”
Now Choga wants to give back and hopes for the time when bodybuilding is taken seriously.
“I have been watching the sport keenly and will be honest that sometimes I get disillusioned because of the trend the sport was taking internationally.
“Athletes are sometimes way too big and don’t put enough energy into toning.
“National champions lack exposure and confine themselves to upmarket gyms.
“In my days, we used to guest-pose and train in gyms in all four corners of Zimbabwe like Matapi, Mbare, Highfield, Mufakose, Dzivaresekwa, Victoria Falls, Gweru, Bulawayo, just to name a few.
“I also prefer the term Zimbabwe National Bodybuilding Champion as opposed to Mr Zimbabwe, as the former sounds athletic and the latter sounds like a pageant title.
“Internationally, there is no more Mr Universe, but World Championship, no more Mr America, but is now called American National Bodybuilding Championships.
“If chess is a sport, why should bodybuilding not be a sport? We work hard in the gym all year round and we do not depend on genetics alone, and being beautiful or being handsome has nothing to do with it,” Choga said.
Online Reporter