The South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) revealed the athletes who will represent Team South Africa at the upcoming Paris Olympic Games.
Among the eagerly anticipated announcements were the rosters for the South Africa Men’s and Women’s field hockey teams.
The South African Women’s hockey team will mark their sixth appearance at the Olympic Games, having made their debut in Sydney in 2000.
This year, Coach Giles Bonnet returns to lead the squad, reprising his role from the London 2012 Games and bringing valuable continuity and experience to the team.
The squad includes six players who participated in the Tokyo 2021 Olympics: Quanita Bobbs, Celia Seerane, Edith Molikoe, Kristen Paton, Onthatile Zulu, and Erin Christie.
Notably, Dirkie Chamberlain returns for her second Olympic appearance, having last competed in 2012, adding depth and experience to the team.
Competing in Pool B, the SA Women’s team faces a demanding schedule. Their campaign begins against Australia on July 28, followed by a match against Argentina just over a day later.
After a short break, they will play against Great Britain and Spain on consecutive days, finishing the group stage with a game against the United States.
This challenging line-up will test the team’s resilience, but their blend of seasoned and emerging players positions them well for the competition.
Team SA Women’s Roster:
Taheera Augousti (26 caps)
Quanita Bobbs (184 caps)
Stephanie Botha (30 caps)
Dirkie Chamberlain (243 caps)
Erin Christie (105 caps)
Kayla de Waal (20 caps)
Paris-Gail Isaacs (7 caps)
Antonet Louw (26 caps)
Ongeziwe Mali (30 caps)
Ntsopa Mokoena (26 caps)
Edith Molikoe (34 caps)
Kristen Paton (72 caps)
Hannah Pearce (41 caps)
Celia Seerane (185 caps)
Anelle van Deventer (48 caps)
Onthatile Zulu (56 caps)
Travelling Reserves:
Aphiwe Dimba (12 caps)
Kayla Swarts (18 caps)
Coaching Staff:
Giles Bonnet
Marcelle Keet
Lynne Abrahamse
Wayne Lombard
The South African Men’s hockey team, fresh from their bronze medal win at the FIH Nations Cup in Poland, largely retains the squad that achieved this success. This continuity is expected to bolster their performance in Paris.
Dayaan Cassiem will lead the team, supported by his brother Mustapha Cassiem, and several key players who were part of the squad that made waves by defeating Germany in Tokyo 2021.
The roster includes experienced players like Keenan Horne, Matthew Guise-Brown, Ryan Julius, Tevin Kok, Dan Bell, Nic Spooner, Bili Ntuli, and Sam Mvimbi.
Placed in Pool A, the men’s team faces a series of formidable opponents. They will open their campaign against the Netherlands and Great Britain, followed by a rest day.
Subsequently, they will take on Germany and Spain, concluding the pool stages with a match against the host nation, France. The team’s recent achievements and stable squad composition provide a strong foundation for these challenging encounters.
Team SA Men’s Roster:
Dan Bell (106 caps)
Dayaan Cassiem (77 caps)
Mustapha Cassiem (54 caps)
Calvin Davis (1 cap)
Matthew Guise-Brown (67 caps)
Andrew Hobson (31 caps)
Keenan Horne (119 caps)
Gowan Jones (90 caps)
Ryan Julius (81 caps)
Tevin Kok (69 caps)
Zenani Kraai (18 caps)
Samkelo Mvimbi (58 caps)
Bili Ntuli (103 caps)
Brad Sherwood (42 caps)
Nic Spooner (71 caps)
Jacques van Tonder (27 caps)
Estiaan Kriek (36 caps)
Peabo Lembethe (76 caps)
Coaching Staff:
Cheslin Gie
Sihle Ntuli
Devon van Der Merwe
Donavin George
The announcement of the South African hockey teams for the Paris Olympics has sparked excitement and anticipation among fans and athletes.
With a balanced mix of experience and promising new talent, both the men’s and women’s teams are poised to make a significant impact.
Details of the matches and live broadcasts will be shared on SA Hockey’s social media channels and SASCOC’s platforms, ensuring supporters can follow every moment of their journey in Paris.
Photo: X
