Home at last! Goofy’s long-awaited Hartsfield dream comes true as Sables date Zambia

FOR years, Sables’ towering lock, Kudakwashe “Goofy” Nyakufaringwa, has carried the weight of the green and white with quiet pride, his boots tracing paths across distant lands, his frame rising in unfamiliar stadiums, his spirit buoyed by the roar of crowds that were never quite his own.

There has always been something stirring, something almost poetic, about representing a nation far from the place that first shaped you. And yet, for all the miles travelled and the hard-earned caps collected along the way, there remained an absence — a deeply personal omission — the chance to stand tall beneath the Bulawayo sky and play an international match on the very ground that nurtured his rugby dreams: Hartsfield Rugby Grounds.

Now, in a moment that feels almost too perfectly scripted, that lingering absence gives way to fulfilment. The wait, long and patient, has finally come to an end. This afternoon, the Sables return to one of Zimbabwe’s most storied rugby theatres, as they host Zambia in the second instalment of the Battle of the Zambezi. Hartsfield, with its echoes of past glories and its quietly watchful stands, will once again pulse with international energy — something it has not witnessed since 2019, when Kenya came calling in a Victoria Cup encounter. For Bulawayo, and for those who understand what this space represents, it is not merely another fixture; it is a homecoming.

For Goofy, it is something even deeper — a full-circle moment steeped in memory, sacrifice and longing. The ground beneath his feet today is the same soil where he once honed his craft, the same turf where youthful ambition took root. To now return not as a hopeful boy but as an international player feels almost surreal. It is the stuff of dreams, quietly held onto and finally realised.

“I have never had the opportunity to play in Bulawayo and, being a Bulawayo boy, it means a lot to finally grace the field where I spent many years growing up. Playing in Bulawayo in national colours is amazing, and I’m looking forward to it. It means a lot to me and everyone who has been a part of my journey. It has been something that I have always wanted to experience,” he said.

There is an unmistakable tenderness in his words, a sense that this moment is not his alone but shared with everyone who walked the journey with him. It is a story of patience, and of the subtle pull of home that never quite loosens its grip.

The Poland-based lock does not shy away from admitting that this moment very nearly slipped through his fingers. The road back was not without obstacles, and there were times when the possibility of missing this match loomed large — a cruel twist for someone who had waited so long.

“There were a lot of obstacles and there was a high possibility that I was not going to be around to play this game, but God had His plans and, to be here, it’s a great feeling. I had to sacrifice being with my family for this game, although it was really not in my hands. I am really excited.

“Having raised the banner of where I am from in every place, it felt like I was not doing Bulawayo justice, so having this opportunity is a special moment and I’m really excited to have it now. There were moments where I thought this day would never come, but this is a dream come true,” he said.

There is something profoundly human in that confession — the quiet doubt, the near-misses, the weight of representing home from afar while yearning to return and truly honour it. For Goofy, stepping onto Hartsfield today is more than a match; it is a reconciliation between past and present, between the boy who dreamed and the man who delivers.

As anticipation builds, his gaze shifts from the personal to the collective. He speaks not only as a player but as a son of Bulawayo, calling on the city to recognise the magnitude of this moment. In a country where rugby’s heartbeat often feels strongest in Harare, today offers something rare — a chance for Bulawayo to reassert itself, to remind the nation of its own deep and proud sporting heritage.

“I am hoping Bulawayo comes through for the boys. Rugby has a bigger fanbase in Harare, but I am excited to see what Bulawayo has to offer. The turnout will determine whether there will be more games in future. I am hoping the city comes out and we show that we are Zimbabwe’s rugby hub and pay homage to everyone in the city.

“This is a once-in-a-decade opportunity to show what the sport means to us as Bulawayo. Having this game at probably the biggest rugby stadium in Zimbabwe is amazing. With the greats sitting in the stands, I hope the fans realise the importance of this opportunity, we must not squander it. We have to come out and roar. This is a chance for every other sport to say we want the international stage in Bulawayo,” he said.

His plea rises beyond rugby, touching something almost civic — a call to unity, to pride, to the idea that sport can stitch a community together in ways few other things can. It is an invitation for Bulawayo to show up, to stand tall, to remind itself of what it is capable of.
He continues, his vision widening to include a future where this moment is not isolated, but foundational.

“Now it’s rugby, and next we will rally behind every other sport in the same way we are going to rally behind this one. We see cricket doing it, and rugby can be next. It’s an opportunity for us as Bulawayo to show that we are one, that we are a force to be reckoned with, and that we are ready for the challenge.”

That sense of continuity carried into yesterday, when Hartsfield transformed into more than just a venue.
The Sables hosted a legacy coaching clinic, opening their world to eager youngsters whose eyes gleamed with possibility. It was a scene rich with symbolism — today’s heroes mingling with tomorrow’s hopefuls, the unspoken passing of a torch.

For Nyakufaringwa, these moments are as important as any Test match. They are where dreams are planted, where belief begins to take hold.

“Having international games is big for the boys, reminding them what they are playing for and what the pinnacle is. It will be inspiring, and we also aspire to inspire. Just having the opportunity for the boys to see their heroes and realise that it is possible, to see us in a different light and develop the desire to be on that stage, will be a big boost. I also hope corporates can come on board,” said Nyakufaringwa.

And yet, for all the emotion and symbolism wrapped around today’s occasion, there is still a game to be played — a contest that carries its own weight.

The Sables arrive in formidable form, riding the confidence of 14 consecutive Test victories stretching back to May 2024, their momentum undeniable. Just last week, they edged Zambia 43–31 in the opening chapter of this cross-border rivalry, setting the stage for what promises to be another fiercely contested encounter.

For Goofy, this particular match rises above the rest, not because of statistics or streaks, but because of who will be watching — and where.

“There will definitely be a lot of pressure, but years of experience, understanding my role in the team and doing what is required of me will help. My target is to do what I do best for the team,” he said.