South African hockey player Onthatile Zulu gets her wings!

Onthatile ‘Thati’ Zulu, a 23-year-old professional hockey player from Pretoria, takes her career to new heights with Red Bull.

The year kicked off with a bang for the University of Pretoria graduate who relocated to Cape Town to explore some opportunities.

Thati believes this is the year to elevate her game both on and off the field. Historically, women athletes have been far behind their male counterparts when it comes to sponsorship deals. However, the narrative is changing as more and more female athletes get recognition.

The game of hockey has opened doors Thati could only dream of. In 2019, she made her senior international debut for South Africa, during a qualifying event for the 2020 Summer Olympics in Stellenbosch. Then in 2021, she made her Olympic debut at the Pool A match against Ireland. Thati was co-captain with Christa Ramasimong for the South Africa U21 team that competed at the FIH Women’s Junior World Cup.

Now having bagged this incredible brand partnership, Thati is certain that her career will only get better as she has the financial support to thrive

“The partnership with Red Bull allows me to dream big about my goals and aspirations. I can fully concentrate on my performance,” she said. “Sponsorships go beyond just tangible things. I have access to a team of experts that will help me to optimise my training and nutrition to ensure that I perform at my best. They will also help me develop a mental training plan that will help me stay focused and motivated.”

“From the moment I was announced as a Red Bull athlete in January, I knew that this partnership was going to be something special. Red Bull has a reputation for supporting the world’s top athletes, and giving wings to people and their ideas. I feel honoured to be a part of this brand. This is a big win, not only for me but for other sportswomen as well. Let’s celebrate and pave the way for the next generation of athletes by also giving back to the communities we come from.

I am filled with gratitude and appreciation for this opportunity. I am excited to see what the future holds and I know that with Red Bull by my side, I will continue to soar to new heights,” she concluded.

Thanks and Kind Regards,