After three matches against Canada, South Africa’s team has shown both experienced players and new talent, giving fans plenty to cheer for as 2026 gets underway.
Pretoria, South Africa (12 January 2026) – The South African Women’s Hockey Team has kicked off 2026 in style with a set of fresh talent as they take on Canada in a five-match test series at HS Menlopark. After three games, the team is building momentum and giving home fans plenty to cheer about.
The series opened with a dominant 5-0 victory that set the tone for the campaign. South Africa started confidently, with Olympian Thati Zulu breaking the deadlock following a sublime pass from Ntsopa Mokoena. Head coach Inky Zondi praised the squad.
“We believe that in 2026 we can do something special for the country, including at the FIH Hockey World Cup, and this is an important first step.”
The second test proved to be a much tighter contest, with South Africa and Canada battling to a 0-0 draw. The match also featured milestones and debuts, including Nomsa Mzizi and Richele Norval earning their first caps, while Stephanie Botha celebrated her 50th appearance for the national team.
The third encounter saw South Africa return to winning ways with a 2-0 victory. Goalkeeper Jana Marie Botha made her senior debut, and the hosts showed both attacking intent and defensive control.
Thati Zulu reflected on the win.
“I think it was a good game, especially after a frustrating performance yesterday. This is about building for the World Cup, so it’s important that we keep seeing progress this year. The support really helped us today and fuels the fire.”
With two wins and a draw from three matches, the SA Women’s Hockey Team is off to a confident start. Debutants are making their mark, and seasoned players are hitting key milestones. Attention now turns to the next tests in Pretoria, where South Africa will aim to continue their momentum.
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