SPONSORS
ACCOLADES & ACCOMPLISHMENTS
- (2019) FNB Varsity Hockey Player of the Tournament (University of Pretoria)
- (2021) FIH Women's Junior World Cup (co-captain, South Africa U21); Summer Olympics, Tokyo
- (2022) Commonwealth Games, Birmingham; FIH Women's World Cup, Terrassa
- (2024) Summer Olympics, Paris
- (2025) Africa Cup of Nations Winner (South Africa Women defeated Ghana 4-0 in the final)
Onthatile ‘Thati’ Zulu
Date of birth: 14.03.2000
A two-time Olympian and South Africa's most dynamic forward, Onthatile "Thati" Zulu has become one of the most recognisable names in South African field hockey.
Born in Pretoria on 14 March 2000, Thati picked up her first hockey stick at the age of six and never looked back. She progressed through the provincial ranks at Northern Gauteng before Cornwall Hill College opened the door to national competition, earning her first Proteas Schools call-up at 16. The move to the University of Pretoria in 2019 proved to be a turning point, exposing her to a high-performance environment that sharpened every dimension of her game. That very same year she made her senior national debut during the Road to Tokyo Olympic qualifiers.
Her performances earned her a place in the squad that travelled to Japan, where she made her Olympic debut on 24 July 2021 against Ireland. She went on to represent South Africa at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham and the World Cup in Terrassa, Spain, before returning to the Olympic stage in Paris in 2024 as an experienced and impactful player. At junior level, she also served as co-captain of the SA U21 side alongside Christa Ramasimong at the FIH Women's Junior World Cup. In 2022, she graduated from the University of Pretoria with a B.Com in Business Management, completing her studies all while navigating demands of international competition.
Beyond her commitments with the Proteas, Thati is actively pursuing a professional playing career internationally, continuing to grow her game and her profile on the global stage.
Onthatile ‘Thati’ Zulu
Date of birth: 14.03.2000
A two-time Olympian and South Africa's most dynamic forward, Onthatile "Thati" Zulu has become one of the most recognisable names in South African field hockey.
Born in Pretoria on 14 March 2000, Thati picked up her first hockey stick at the age of six and never looked back. She progressed through the provincial ranks at Northern Gauteng before Cornwall Hill College opened the door to national competition, earning her first Proteas Schools call-up at 16. The move to the University of Pretoria in 2019 proved to be a turning point, exposing her to a high-performance environment that sharpened every dimension of her game. That very same year she made her senior national debut during the Road to Tokyo Olympic qualifiers.
Her performances earned her a place in the squad that travelled to Japan, where she made her Olympic debut on 24 July 2021 against Ireland. She went on to represent South Africa at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham and the World Cup in Terrassa, Spain, before returning to the Olympic stage in Paris in 2024 as an experienced and impactful player. At junior level, she also served as co-captain of the SA U21 side alongside Christa Ramasimong at the FIH Women's Junior World Cup. In 2022, she graduated from the University of Pretoria with a B.Com in Business Management, completing her studies all while navigating demands of international competition.
Beyond her commitments with the Proteas, Thati is actively pursuing a professional playing career internationally, continuing to grow her game and her profile on the global stage.
SPONSORS
ACCOLADES & ACCOMPLISHMENTS
- (2019) FNB Varsity Hockey Player of the Tournament (University of Pretoria)
- (2021) FIH Women's Junior World Cup (co-captain, South Africa U21); Summer Olympics, Tokyo
- (2022) Commonwealth Games, Birmingham; FIH Women's World Cup, Terrassa
- (2024) Summer Olympics, Paris
- (2025) Africa Cup of Nations Winner (South Africa Women defeated Ghana 4-0 in the final
