by sussexpob » Tue Apr 26, 2022 1:14 pm
As for Mark Boucher though, I will be surprised in the next few weeks if he keeps his job. The case against Boucher is certainly problematic, and I cannot see how he will continue in the job.
Paul Adams gave evidence to the original investigation saying that Boucher created a song that was sung at team meetings, which referred to Adams as "the brown sh*t"; Boucher has since apologised and admitted this occurred and he was involved, although says he didn't instigate it or create the song. An unnamed source in the investigation claimed Adams addressed Boucher in turn as "the white c*nt" on a regular basis, but even if that's true, two wrongs dont make a right, and the suggestions that Adams accepted it all as a joke and was "part of it" sound like usual racist excuses. When playing in a team of 10 white guys, I am not sure the black guy gets to "not be part of it" while not jepordising his career or standing my making an issue, so it seems a mute point. Ntini spoke about almost total isolation at the start of his career in the team, going as far as to say being ignored on the team bus got to him so much, he stopped taking it - and would run to the ground and back before every day's play for the rest of his career... so for an example of what its like not accepting to be "part of it", that is it.
Of course there are other charges leveled against Boucher, mainly with the black lives matters protests. Apparently Boucher didnt speak to his black players about it after Ngidi raised the topic that the team should take the knee - Boucher instead got the black assistant coach to answer his players of colour's concerns, and he focused on the white group - a move that has split opinions down the middle, with some saying he was disregarding his black players concerns, others by saying he focused his time on the real problem groups in the team (the white players refusing to be involved) in hope of persuading them to join in.
The last accusation was Boucher refused to give any responsibility or accountability to his black assistant coach and junior staff. The AC quit in 2021 citing the fact that he was basically given nothing to do, and was turning up just to be the token, silent guy who couldnt be trusted. Not much evidence either way on that one, and the coaches testimony was slightly contradicted by his BLM complaints as it showed Boucher had entrusted key responsibilities to him, while also it has to be noted that said coach was replaced by Boucher and was very vocal about that, so does have an axe to grind with him, and has stated in the past the two have struggled to bond over the issue.
Boucher wont be helped with association to other players and what they have said on the issue. Boeta Dippenaar and Pat Symcox both celebrated the lack of apparent BLM traction under Boucher, friends in the past believed to be close still, by tweeting neo-nazi white conspiracy nonsense about white farmer holocausts. They also, considering the eras they played in, dont paint the late 90s-early 2000s SA team in a great light if they indeed hold/held these types of disgusting views.
Of course, there has been questions from black journalists themselves in SA about where to draw the line. Many people have said if Boucher did hold racist views in the mid to late 90s, and acted appallingly, then in some form of mitigation at what stage is too far back to be considered relevant to now? Because Boucher would have been raised in a racist environment, indoctrinated into it, and the detoxifying process wouldnt have just occurred overnight. At some stage it has to be appreciated that this was 20-25 years ago, that people can change, that outlooks have indeed changed, and people are more educated now.
I dont personally buy into that. I mean, it might be true. Boucher might be a reformed racist with a heart of gold.... but if you ask me if its fair for players to come into a dressing room and sit or be coached with people who are proven to have displayed horrendous racist views or behaviour, I would say absolutely not. I wouldn't feel comfortable entering a dressing room with such a man as a black player, and so I think the right thing is he has to go.
Elgar has been supportive. A lot of other people say Boucher's turn around of the team speaks for itself. But I dont think that changes it. I havent seen any vocal support from people of colour in the team, so maybe that speaks for itself.
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