By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Image Supplied.
Enoch Nkwe has informed Cricket South Africa of his intention to resign as South Africa’s assistant coach. Emergency meetings are being held this afternoon to establish his position.
Nkwe feels that his inputs as assistant coach are not valued and taken into consideration. He feels he has been reduced to being a ‘cones boy’. He does not feel he is part of the team.
The Cricket South Africa (CSA) board has asked the assistant coach to reconsider, which was later confirmed by CSA.
“CSA has noted media reports about the resignation of Proteas assistant coach, Enoch Nkwe,” a CSA statement read.
“Nkwe has indeed signalled an intention to resign, and this matter is being considered by the board.
The Proteas limited-overs squad assembled at the North West University Sports Village in Potchefstroom this past Sunday to begin preparation for their tour to Sri Lanka.
To make matters worse, bowling coach Charl Langeveldt and fast bowler Junior Dala will no longer take part in the tour due to Covid-19 protocol-related reasons.
Titans head coach Mandla Mashimbyi will replace Langeveldt, while Justin Sammons has been called in as a batting consultant.
The Proteas will play three T20s and three ODIs in Sri Lanka.
Meanwhile Proteas coach Mark Boucher has released a public statement around accusations levelled at him during the Social Justice and Nation Building (SJN) hearings, while offering a “sincere apology for any real and perceived inappropriate behaviour by me”.
“I have listened to the hurt some of my team-mates felt, the feeling of exclusion and some totally unacceptable and inappropriate examples of alleged racism that they endured,” Boucher wrote.
Boucher said he would submit a supplementary affidavit in “due course” in which he would “deal with the specific allegations made against me”.
He requested that his follow-up submission be kept confidential so as not to become a “disparaging mud-slinging match which will inevitably detract from the objectives of the SJN”.
He also asked to be given the opportunity to engage “one-on-one” with any ex-team-mates who he had offended.
In this initial submission, Boucher addressed the Adams situation.
He said that numerous players of all races were given nicknames that had racial connotations and that he, too, was given a nickname based on the colour of his skin.
Boucher further stated that while he “can categorically say that did not give Mr Adams the name ‘brown s***’ and “does not know who gave him the name,” he admitted he was part of a group of players that sang a song in which Adams’ was called “brown s***” at fines’ meetings.
“I do not recall which ‘songs master’ initiated the song referred to by Mr. Adams, but I acknowledge that it has now become apparent from testimony of former team-mates that some of what happened at these meetings was totally inappropriate, unacceptable and in retrospect understandably offensive,” he wrote.
“While at the time we thought it was playful banter within a team environment in which we all participated as a normal part of team dynamics, I deeply regret and apologise for the part I played by joining in with my team-mates in singing offensive songs or using offensive nicknames.”
Boucher also conceded that some of what took place at those post-match celebrations was “totally inappropriate, unacceptable and in retrospect, understandably offensive”.
The Proteas coach added that he “deeply regrets and apologies for the part I played in joining in with my team-mates in singing offensive songs or using offensive nicknames.”