By CHRIS DANIELS
Not too many Zimbos live in New Zealand - 150, maybe 200. Most left home and family, looking for a better life overseas.
But on a perfect day on the Eden Park terraces, they gathered in a sunny corner to show they still love their old home, Zimbabwe.
Louder and
more enthusiastic than most New Zealand fans, the hoarse, sunburned Zimbos had their ardour rewarded by a great last-gasp victory, as their team yesterday won its first one-day cricket series on foreign soil.
All said they hated what was going on in their country, where violent land occupations condoned by President Robert Mugabe had created a dangerous, fearful place.
But a love of cricket, and the hint of a victory would unite their country like nothing else could.
"We are all into the cricket, black and white - it truly brings everyone together," said one.
Being at the bottom of the world cricket ladder makes no difference to them. Cricket is their number one sport, one in which Zimbabwe can compete on the world stage.
With a population of 11.3 million, Zimbabwe was admitted as a test-playing nation in 1992.
One of the loudest of the Eden Park Zimbos, Dion Scott, came to New Zealand three months ago. She is now flatting in Auckland with four other young people, all sent here by their parents.
She is still waiting for her parents to leave their Harare printing and engineering interests to join her.
Lynda Peebles, who has lived in New Zealand for three years, said members of the small Zimbabwe community had called each other to organise a trip to yesterday's game.
Ms Peebles helped set up Zimcare, a group helping refugees leave Zimbabwe and settle in New Zealand.
After yesterday's victory, she found it hard to contain her excitement.
And she was preparing to e-mail and phone all her friends and relatives, who were just waking up to news of the victory.
"It's absolutely fantastic, this win is just amazing. It will really bring everyone together."
Zimbabwe makes late Streak into history
