Online Reporter
Brandon Moyo
IF there were any lingering doubts about Bulawayo’s love for rugby, they were emphatically answered at Hartsfield Rugby Grounds on Saturday when Zimbabwe hosted Zambia.
Seven years after hosting an international match, the spiritual home of Zimbabwean rugby was transformed into a sea of colour, noise and unwavering passion as thousands turned out in what can only be described as a statement crowd.
It was a sea of green-and-white at the historic venue as Bulawayo made a declaration. The crowd were repaid in good fashion by the in-form Sables who secured a hard-fought 17-7 win over the Copper Eagles.
“A day like this was special for Bulawayo, it’s not just a game of rugby or folks coming out to have a good time. It’s an issue of preservation of heritage,” said Bulawayo Metropolitan Rugby Football Board chairperson, Carrington Busili. “Hartsfield is the home of rugby and we are grateful for the Sables for coming back home, to where the heritage of rugby is.
“It was about bringing back the rich heritage of rugby in Bulawayo.
“I put a post on Facebook to say Bulawayo, I need you to come out. I was asking for 4 000 people and they did more.
“Well done Bulawayo, thank you so much for coming out, we have preserved the heritage and we will continue to build on it.”
He added:
“This is a ground where the All Blacks lost, that’s a piece of history we need to continue building on and preserving.
“It was a tight game today but, at least, the guys brought it home, they stepped up.
“Bulawayo came out, it was great to see, well done to the city, I am proud of you,”
Bulawayo City Council Deputy Mayor, Edwin Ndlovu, was also pleased with the numbers at the iconic venue.
Ndlovu said it was a moment of pride to have international rugby back in the city, adding that some work, however, needs to be done.
“We are very much happy to have had the Sables play at Hartsfield again.
“It was a good match and the Sables played well, although there is room for improvement.
“Hopefully, we shall continue hosting international matches here but there must be some improvements made at the stadium,” said Ndlovu.
Saturday’s victory completed a Battle of Zambezi double for the Sables who won last week’s opener 41-31 at Harare Sports Club. Sables captain, Hilton Mudariki, was charmed by the crowd at Hartsfield.
“This is the spiritual home of Zimbabwe rugby. For us to come out here and play, and see the crowd turn out like this, supporting the Sables, there is nothing more special.
“I am truly grateful for the people of Bulawayo for coming out and supporting us and being on our side.
“We truly appreciate and long may this continue, long may many games come to Bulawayo our spiritual home,” said Mudariki, who came in as an impact player and put in a brilliant shift.
Pieter Benade’s men have now gone 15 Test matches without tasting defeat, a streak that also includes back-to-back Africa Cup titles.
Their winning streak started with a 32-29 win over Zambia in Harare in May 2024.Saturday’s game was the first international match to be played at Hartsfield in seven years, with the last having been a Victoria Cup encounter between Zimbabwe and Kenya in 2019.
