Onthatile Zulu relishing SA Hockey’s international tour as Paris 2024 looms

After finishing bottom of their group at the Tokyo showpiece in 2021, the upcoming international tour is geared towards giving the squad a better chance this time around. 

Star player Onthathile Zulu discusses their busy schedule.

"This year is actually the first year that the South African women's hockey side is traveling overseas to get more exposure and play more games before Paris 2024," said Zulu.

"This year is our preparation for Paris 2024, so we have four blocks – in one block, there's two weeks of training and one week of traveling overseas.

"We'll be travelling to Chile, Japan, Korea, Argentina, USA and, I think, Spain as well. It's amazing that this year we'll be able to travel and get more exposure."

Their Japan performance suggests SA were there to merely make up the numbers, but Zulu believes this international tour could help silence the critics. 

"All these games that are going to happen this year will give us, almost, a hand in to say, 'Ok, we're actually going to perform at Paris 2024 Olympics," she added.

"Because before, a lot of people thought South Africa is only there to participate [and] not actually compete. So, with this year and the games we'll be able to play, it will allow us to compete next year and not let people look down on us or think we're underdogs."