From the field to new worlds: The unexpected life of Shingirai Chakona after football

SAMANTHA MADE

While most footballers hang up their boots to become coaches or team managers, Shingirai Chakona’s post-football journey took a completely different direction—one that led him from the pitch to film sets and fashion runways.

Born in Zimbabwe and now based in Finland, Chakona is a former Chapungu Football Club player, where he shared the field with elite names such as Nkulumo Donga, Innocent Chogugudza, and the twin brothers Cane and Abel Mutenji.

Unlike celebrated former players who turned to coaching—like Kalisto Pasuwa, Lloyd Mutasa, and Kelvin Kaindu—or team management, such as Peter Ndlovu, Ronald Sibanda, and Tinashe Nengomasha, Chakona charted a new course. He followed in the footsteps of global icons like David Beckham and Eric Cantona, who transitioned from football to acting.

Reflecting on his unlikely career shift, Chakona described the acting world as “an incredibly dynamic and demanding landscape.”

“It’s a real test of resilience—you’re constantly navigating the hustle of auditions and the periods of quiet. But the reward, when you finally connect with a character and bring a story to life on set, is truly unmatched and exhilarating,” Chakona said.

For him, acting is not merely a job—it’s a craft built on passion and daily commitment.

“Right now, the industry feels like it’s in a fascinating state of transformation, especially with the rise of streaming and new platforms. It’s fast-paced and competitive, and actors must be more proactive—not just in acting, but in creating their own content and building their personal brand. It’s challenging, but it’s also opening up more diverse and interesting roles,” he added.

Despite his growing success, Chakona admits that acting comes with its own set of challenges—ones that demand emotional stamina rather than physical endurance.

“The challenges in acting are often less about the physical sprint and more about the mental and emotional marathon,” he explained. “A soccer player trains his body for 90 minutes of high-intensity action; an actor trains his vulnerability to be emotionally exposed and truthful in take after take. In soccer, the pressure is on a score—it’s external. In acting, the pressure is on authenticity—it’s entirely internal.”

He laughed lightly as he described the emotional shift between scenes.

“I have to be ready to cry on cue and then shake it off for a different scene. It’s a different kind of exhaustion than running laps.”

Before his acting debut, Chakona’s foray into the arts began with modeling. While still playing for Chapungu—the Air Force of Zimbabwe–owned club—he walked in fashion shows for Edgars. His striking presence soon caught the attention of designers.

“Designers started asking me to advertise their products. I didn’t know much about the industry then, but I liked it,” he said. “So I decided to go for it. That’s when I auditioned for Supermodel, the annual competition in Zimbabwe.”

Afterward, football took him to Namibia, where fate again intervened. During his stint with a Namibian club, he attended his first film audition—for the Hollywood blockbuster 10,000 B.C.

“That was my first film—as one of the big guys for the Hoda Tribe,” he recalled with a grin.

One opportunity led to another. Chakona soon found himself cast in multiple productions filmed back-to-back at the same location.

“I auditioned again for Galore Walker, as a double and character look-alike. One film led to the next,” he said.

From the roar of stadium crowds to the quiet intensity of film sets, Chakona’s journey is a testament to the power of reinvention. What began as a career in football has evolved into a life of artistry—where resilience once shown on the pitch now shines through the camera lens.

His story proves that the discipline of sport and the creativity of performance are not so different after all.

Both require heart, perseverance, and the courage to start anew.