By KATHERINE HOBY
All young rugby players dream of playing for their country and emulating their heroes.
But 10-year-old South African player Nazeem Robertson's dreams have been of men in black recently, rather than the green and gold of his homeland.
Nazeem is part of a school team visiting from Strand, 40km from Cape Town.
"Springboks or All Blacks? My mind is in a spin," he said.
The Strand Seagulls, from an underprivileged black neighbourhood, will have one of their dreams come true tonight when they cheer on their All Black heroes against Scotland at Eden Park.
The Seagulls are in the country for a month and have been given tickets to the game.
Manager Noor Adams said an invitation to watch the All Blacks train, and the free tickets, had "made the tour."
A lack of funds almost stopped the team from getting here, he said.
"All my New Zealand contacts told me we could make it and in my heart I still thought we could make it."
The Seagulls have rewarded that faith by not losing a match. With a five-win, one-draw record, they can go home with their heads held high.
Team members Alie Abel, Muneeb Daniels and Kashief Jeneker, all aged 12, and Junaid Dean, 11, were keen to pick up tips from the All Blacks' warm-up session yesterday.
They chattered and whispered among themselves about some of the big boys' techniques. But mostly they just stood in contemplation.
The Seagulls had no doubt that the All Blacks would win.
"Of course they will win. They are the All Blacks, aren't they?"
Loyalties were divided when it came to the Under-21 curtainraiser, South Africa against New Zealand.
"We would hate to say we want our gracious host country to lose," Adams said. "But my heart still says South Africa for the win."
All Blacks test SA boys' loyalty
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