Online Reporter
Brandon Moyo, Zimpapers Sports Hub
HARTSFIELD Rugby Grounds, the spiritual home of Zimbabwean rugby, has received a timely boost as its long-overdue facelift gathers momentum, thanks to a vital donation of field maintenance equipment from Spin City.
The generous gesture, made on Wednesday, breathes new life into Bulawayo’s efforts to restore the iconic venue to its former glory—just weeks before the 2025 rugby season kicks off.
Carrington Busili, chairman of the Bulawayo Metropolitan Rugby Football Board (BMRFB), hailed the donation as a game changer in their ongoing renovation campaign.
“The project for the rebirth of Bulawayo also extends to its facilities. We have a broader initiative focused on reha-bilitating the Hartsfield facility. Receiving this field maintenance equipment significantly enhances our efforts across the various work streams involved in restoring the turf.
“That’s where all the rugby is played, so this rehabilitation is crucial. It enables us to do more, work more efficiently, and reduce the number of facility staff required—allowing us to reassign them to other areas within the grounds. It’s a truly valuable donation, perfectly aligned with our rehabilitation goals, and it will go a long way in supporting our plans,” said Busili.
He also outlined some of the groundwork already in progress.
“We’ve made substantial progress. We’ve upgraded our irrigation system, improved the piping, and added more sprinkler heads to increase watering capacity. Previously, we watered for four hours a day, but with these enhance-ments, we aim to double that—so the field will appear much greener.
“We’ve also partnered with ZPCS to assist with labour for weeding, ensuring the turf remains undisturbed. Work is also underway on the grandstands, including paint touch-ups. There’s a lot in the pipeline. It’s a comprehensive pro-ject with multiple work streams, and we’re on track.
“Soon, Hartsfield will be transformed—you’ll see the difference by the end of the year and during the upcoming season, which begins in about three weeks. We’re confident it will be a new-look Hartsfield,” Busili said.
The senior men’s and women’s rugby season is set to commence at the end of the month.
Speaking at the handover ceremony, Brian Ndlovu, a representative from Spin City, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership with the BMRFB.
“We’re strong supporters of rugby, from grassroots to senior level, so we decided to sponsor Harts-field Rugby Grounds. This is one of the country’s premier rugby venues—home to the Sables. This marks the beginning of a promising relationship with Bulawayo rugby and Hartsfield,” said Ndlovu.
