Mark Boucher’s term as Proteas coach was controversial


A photograph circulated in the days following South Africa’s victory in the first Test at Lord’s last month, depicting a portion of the Proteas squad on the balcony of the away dressing room with the South African flag draped across the front.

Everyone in the picture is a player. Some were holding beers, some were punching the air, and everyone was grinning, with team captain Dean Elgar in the lead. You are unable to observe the coaching staff. During the Mark Boucher period, the coaching staff was rarely seen. In an official team photograph taken following the Lord’s Test, the majority of coaching staff are positioned on the periphery.

However, Boucher is front and center with a sheepish smirk that says he would much rather be on the fringe.

Boucher’s players and other Proteas management members spoke well of him. And yet, Boucher never achieved the level of public adoration accorded to Rassie Erasmus and Pitso Mosimane. As a coach, he never sought the limelight, courted controversy, or expressed views on philosophy or umpire decisions.

Before releasing the video to social media, he never danced to the Nightcrawler’s dance classic Push the feeling on. Since his appointment as Proteas coach in 2019, Boucher’s social media accounts have been barren of cricket-related content, save for calls to support conservation efforts and the occasional mention of golf.

While Graeme Smith, the then-Director of Cricket for Cricket South Africa, and the then-Board of Directors for Cricket South Africa (CSA) made what appeared to be an obvious decision based on the state of the national team at the time and Mark Boucher’s success with the Titans, it was nonetheless controversial.

The appointment of Boucher as head coach was regarded as an attempt by an old boys’ network to seize control of South African cricket.

Boucher was unable to bring his own consultants on board. On the field, the Proteas performed poorly, losing a Test series to England, two T20 series to the same team, and then a Test series against Pakistan.

Given what he had inherited and the limited time he had at his disposal, Boucher’s criticism for on-field performance was excessive. During the Social Justice and Nation-building hearings, former teammate Paul Adams claimed that Boucher was among the South African players in the late 1990s who referred to him as “brown crap” in a team song.

This storm began with Enoch Nkwe’s resignation as Boucher’s assistant coach, alleging a bad team culture, followed by Quinton de Kock’s refusal to take the knee in honor of the Black Lives Matter movement a few months later.

The Cricket SA Board combined these two instances with Adams’ testimony to accuse Boucher with bringing the organization into disrepute. Cricket

SA attempted to fire him.

It was the type of public attention that Boucher, an incredibly private person, would have found to be exceedingly damaging.

Understandably, no mention of the disciplinary hearing was made in public, and when CSA canceled the hearing, Boucher issued a brief statement indicating that he was pleased to move on.

It is important to note, as Adams testified, and as he clarified his SJN testimony later, that Boucher was not the only one who sung that song, but only Boucher issued a public apology.

In addition, the other teammates of Boucher and Adams have avoided attention, let alone an apology, while Boucher stayed in the public eye as Proteas head coach… until last week.

His personal touch and behind-the-scenes labor rarely entered the public domain.

In an interview with Timeslive’s Mahlatse Mphahlele last year, Lungi Ngidi, who was at the vanguard of calls for the Proteas to show acknowledgment of the Black Lives Matter movement, lauded Boucher, calling him a mentor.

“He assisted me in transforming into a Protea. As soon as he started coaching for the Titans, he became my mentor, not only in cricket but also in financial matters. Off the field, I could seek his counsel,” Ngidi explained.

“During the lockdown, when we had time to go outside, I began trail running, which he also does; he advised it. I lost so much weight, which aided me tremendously in my cricket performance. I have always had a terrific relationship with him, and I will never forget what he has done for me.”

Sipokazi Sokanyile commented on social media when she resigned her position as Proteas media manager, “Bouchy, they will never even know half of it, and they don’t need to. I am delighted to know you. You have my undying commitment, love, and support.”

After Sokanyile’s final game with the team, Boucher delivered a moving tribute to her in the locker room.

This is likely Boucher’s biggest issue. His transgressions were well publicized, but the work he accomplished away from the cameras only briefly entered the public mind. Unlike Erasmus with the Springboks or Mosimane at Sundowns and later Al-Ahly, he had no publicists. Nor did Boucher attempt to cultivate affection through social media, as these two prominent coaches did.

His will always be a controversial episode in South African cricket history. Was he admired by the general public? Sure. Appreciated? Possibly, in time. Loved? This is far more difficult to answer.

@shockherhess


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