Bili, Sihle fourth set of Tuks brothers going to Olympics

Nqobile and Siphesihle Ntuli will keep up a proud Tuks tradition when they arrive in Tokyo to compete at the Olympic Games.

They are the fourth set of brothers to go to the Games since 1996, but things are slightly different this time around. Nqobile will chase after hockey balls while Siphesihle is the men’s hockey team’s assistant coach.

This is not the first time for the two brothers: they did the same during the 2018 World Cup Tournament.

Nqobile (Bili) dedicated their Olympic selection to their mother, saying that it is another “feather in her cap”.

Siphesihle (Sihle) added that she was undoubtedly their biggest fan.

“Everything we have achieved so far is due to her support and passion,” said Sihle.

“Our mum is the one who encouraged us in everything we do. She herself wasn’t a bad hockey player, playing provincially at school.”

Sihle, who is the eldest by seven years, used to be an avid hockey player himself. He played for South Africa’s u.16 and u.18 school sides and South Africa’s u.21 team.

He went onto becoming part of the South African men’s senior squad. Unfortunately, due to various consistent lower back injury niggles he was forced to retire as a player when he was only 23.

“One of my biggest regrets is that Bili and I never got to play together for South Africa. I am happy that Bili got to do so. If I am honest, he was always the better player. He made his debut for the Proteas in 2015. I was appointed assistant coach in 2018.”

According to Sihle, who also coaches the Tuks men’s side, their passion for hockey was kindled by watching football.

“Both of us played football at school, but we ended up preferring to play hockey. We are, however, both still big football fans. I support Chelsea while Bili is a Manchester United fan. My mum sort of got converted to also support Chelsea. It makes for interesting family conversations.”

It was expected that the two brothers might sometimes differ as to what needs to happen on the Astroturf, but according to Sihle, they didn’t.

“We are both very strong-minded. When we differ, it is actually great. It is important to hear things from a player’s perspective. It gets me to rethink the way I go about things as a coach.”

On being asked what would be realistic expectations for the men’s team at the Tokyo Games, Sihle said they did not target a specific result.

“Our main goal is to compete every time we play. It sets us up for individual flair, and who knows what that may lead to. The nice thing about being South African is that we know how to fight.”

The other Tuks brothers to represent South Africa at the Olympic Games are Grant and Craig Fulton (1996 Atlanta Games-hockey), Frits and Karel Potgieter (2000 Athens Games – athletics), and Matthew Brittain (2012 London Games – rowing), Lawrence Brittain (2016 Rio Games – rowing).

Both Brittain brothers got medals. Matthew was part of the “oarsome foursome” which won gold, while Lawrence teamed up with Shaun Keeling to win silver in the men’s pairs. Their mum is the national rowing team’s medical doctor.

Craig Fulton represented South Africa at the three Olympic Games. In 2008 he and his wife, Natalie, made local sports history by becoming one of the first married couples to compete at the Olympics. She played for the women’s hockey team.

Elvira Wood (Tuks fencer) and her husband, Mike (fencing), were the other married couple who competed at the 2008 Games. The South African 400m-hurdles record holder LJ van Zyl (Tuks) and his wife, Irvette (marathon), represented South Africa at the 2012 Games.

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