Associated Press
By Enoch Muchinjo
3 June 2010
HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) — Brazil’s World Cup players gave Zimbabweans a rare chance to celebrate Wednesday, as fans filled the National Sports Stadium to watch stars like Kaka and Robinho play the African nation in a friendly.
Almost 60,000 supporters, some wearing bright yellow Brazil shirts, saw the five-time world champion beat Zimbabwe 3-0 with goals by Michel Bastos, Robinho and Elano.
Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai watched on from brown armchairs after shaking hands with Brazil’s players before the kickoff.
“It’s a nice country,” midfielder Gilberto Silva said after Brazil’s first match in Zimbabwe. “The atmosphere was great and we enjoyed the hospitality.”
Inspired by World Cup fever in neighboring South Africa, hundreds of cheering supporters surrounded Brazil’s team bus as it left. One held up a sign that read: “Mr. Dunga, where is Ronaldinho?” in reference to coach Dunga’s omission of the AC Milan midfielder from his World Cup squad.
The presence of football’s most famous national team was a rare treat for the fans. Sport in Zimbabwe has been overshadowed in recent years by political troubles and a major economic collapse.
“It was a great spectacle. It was nice to see the stadium packed to the brim,” sports minister David Coltart said. “Zimbabwe played well. I’m sorry we didn’t get a goal, I thought we deserved at least one.”
Manchester City striker Benjani Mwaruwari captained the Zimbabwe team and said his players performed well despite their lack of preparation.
“We played a good game considering we only came together on Monday as a team,” he said.
The Zimbabwe government has not said how much the Brazilians were paid to visit, only that it met around 40 percent of the cost — which is thought to be significant. Sponsors put up the remainder of the money.
“Look, it’s very important that we demonstrate to the world that Zimbabwe is a peaceful country and that we can organize big matches,” Coltart said.
Members of the India and Sri Lanka cricket teams, in Zimbabwe for a tri-nation limited-overs series, were also at the match.
The Brazilian squad was given a rousing welcome by local fans when it arrived in Harare on Tuesday night on a charter flight from Johannesburg — where it is preparing for the World Cup.
Zimbabwe is just the fifth African team, along with Cameroon, Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa, to play against Brazil in the last 30 years.