THE defeat of the Australian cricket team by the Zimbabwean cricketers is heartening for many reasons.
Isu hatiregi kupembera/thina asekeli ukuthokoza.
This momentous victory is important for many reasons.
Australians are no minnows in the cricketing world and we brought them down in a way that not only humiliated them but affected their ranking, they tumbled from the number one position to four.
What I found interesting is the reportage back in Australia.
The Ausies were livid.
The ‘unimaginable’, what the Australians could not imagine had happened.
And the buzzword in their corridors was tinonyarirepi /sizayangekela ngaphi.
Besides getting red with fury they had no kind words for their team.
Their discourse not only portrayed anger with their team but also how they feel about us.
The Australians back home did not expect their team to face a serious challenge because in their minds we are Zimbabwe.
They asked, how Australia’s millionaire cricketers could be beaten by Zimbabwe’s pauper cricketers.
But this is the mistake the West has made about our country and continues to make; they underestimate us, our aspirations, ambitions and resolve.
The victory was a beautiful moment delighting many who are clueless and do not understand the game.
Therein is the importance of the victory.
One needed not understand or know the game at all to be happy.
So why are we all happy?
Sei tiine mufaro mukuru/kungani silenjabulo enkulu.
We are happy because Zimbabwe has triumphed against all odds.
We celebrate the never-say-die spirit.
We celebrate our unbreakable resolve.
We celebrate our tenacity.
We celebrate the Zimbabwean who does not cower even faced by the so-called giants.
Our cricket team has shown us what we are capable of, what we can do.
The victory of Zimbabwe is an exhibition of what lies in us, it will motivate the doubting Thomases.
It will awaken the non believer.
If we all go forward with the same belief that was in our victorious lads we will make significant and meaningful strides.
It is evidence that our destiny is in our hands.
We have friends ready to assist us and all we need is self-belief and confidence in our ability.
The country has secured support that cannot be compared to the trinkets that come from the West.
It is support that if fully embraced will transform our country and make it a beacon of sustainable development further highlighting the value of true friends.
We must be focused.
We must be dedicated.
We must be true.
We must be sincere.
We must work hard.
Zimbabwe will succeed if we all exhibit, everyday, the qualities displayed in that cricket ground.
Supporters united, cheering their team, never pausing or faltering even when it appeared all was lost.
Supporters that did not for a moment doubt its team, they had the team’s back, all the way.
Supporters who stood by the team even when some began to troop out.
The team was not alone.
And to their credit the players showed grit and did not give up.
Players refused to play small.
Players refused to feel or see themselves as second rate compared to their opponents.
Players saw themselves equal to the task and they were.
It was an important victory, never mind what will happen tomorrow, it was a victory that served to show the importance of self-belief, of what can be achieved by a united and focused team.