Former South Africa wicketkeeper and current head coach Mark Boucher has apologized for being part of the group that sang offensive songs and used nicknames for coloured teammates in his playing days. This does not come as surprise as players are being caught red handed using slurs when on field and the media is exposing them at all cost. Team mates who have played in the past who have such skeletons in their closest are now coming out and openly apologizing foe doing the same as the younger ones.
This is seen sometimes as learned behavior as younger generation would think it was ok to do so as long you did not get caught. The senior players have come to this realization and by publicly apologizing hoping that this would deter the younger players from making the same mistakes.
After he was accused of racism by some of his teammates, including Paul Adams, Boucher submitted a 14-page affidavit to Cricket South Africa’s Social Justice and Nation-Building (SJN) committee.
Adams, in his testimony to SJN, had claimed Boucher was among the teammates who made racial slurs on him in a song. Boucher said he did not give Adams any nickname.
In his response to the allegations, Boucher said he and his teammates should have been more sensitive.
Boucher wrote in his affidavit that “I apologies unreservedly for any offensive conduct, real or perceived, that has been attributed to me, We, the team, coaching staff, selectors and CSA, during the period in question, should have been more sensitive and created an environment where all members of the team could raise and talk about these issues without allowing them to fester, as they clearly have.” “…With the benefit of hindsight and maturity, appreciate that I may have said or done things as a young man that offended some of my teammates. For this I apologies sincerely and unreservedly.”
He also said 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”.
Boucher played 147 Tests and 295 ODIs for South Africa.
