Enoch Nkwe opens up on case against Proteas coach Mark Boucher

It was recently confirmed that the disciplinary hearing into the “gross misconduct” of Mark Boucher will take place in May. It follows revelations that various charges had been levelled against the Proteas coach. 

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Part of the hearing will unpack the testimony of former national spinner Paul Adams who implicated Boucher in a racial incident when the two were teammates, alleging that the former wicket-keeper was part of a group who called him a “brown sh*t”.

The upcoming inquiry will also consider concerns and allegations that arose following the resignation of former assistant coach, Enoch Nkwe, who was reported to have claimed he had been “undermined” and reduced to being a “cones boy” in a “toxic working environment”, although his allegations caught many in the Proteas squad off guard.

Nkwe has now spoken to Sport24 about the upcoming hearing involving Boucher, and talk that he could be called to testify.

“I heard that. A lot is still fresh, and there’s still a lot of speculation. I’m just going to leave it at that because at the moment, I’m far from the process, and my name has been thrown in,” Nkwe said

“I found that to be quite surprising, to be honest, because it’s not me against Boucher; it’s CSA against Boucher. I’ve tried to distance myself as much as possible because it’s got nothing to do with me. I’m not the one who started the process.

“I was quite surprised, but it is out there, and whatever it is that CSA does, I’ll respect their process and I’ll continue to move forward and focus on what I need to do next in terms of my career…

“The matter now sits between the coach and the organisation. Whatever happens at the end of that process, I hope the outcome will be one that’s best for the game.

“What’s important is that the game stays healthy and it continues to grow in the right direction. We all need the game to be strong and healthy.

“As fans and stakeholders in the game, we have a responsibility to help the game grow and by sometime next year, we speak the same language in terms of winning the World Cup.

“I know at this moment the game has been slightly tarnished. I hope that at the end of this process, it’ll lead to a healthy move for the game.”

Earlier this month, reports suggested that messages between Boucher and Nkwe apparently indicated a “good relationship”. According to Rapport newspaper, Boucher’s powerhouse legal team was in possession of WhatsApp messages that show their relationship was significantly better than some thought.

A source told Rapport that while Nkwe had valid complaints about his working relationship with the Proteas coach, he may have been influenced by a group of disenfranchised people who influenced him in overemphasising its negative aspects.

The charge sheet issued to Boucher accused him of the following when it came to Nkwe:

– Allegedly not formalising any documented “roles and responsibilities” or meaningful KPIs for the Assistant Coach, Mr Nkwe;

– Allegedly not providing any specific or sufficiently specific and defined role for Mr Nkwe and no “personal development plans” were documented or implemented for Mr Nkwe; and

– Allegedly treating Mr Nkwe in a manner unbecoming of a leader in your position.

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Some of the other accusations CSA levelled at Boucher included:

• Historically repeatedly used racist and/or offensive and/or inappropriate nicknames regarding a Proteas team-mate.
• Having had your racist and/or offensive and/or inappropriate utterances drawn to your attention, you failed to adequately and/or sufficiently and/or appropriately apologise for these utterances and/or acknowledge the racist nature of these utterances and/or hurt that they caused.
• You have conducted yourself in a racist or subliminally racist manner; and/or
• You have conducted yourself in a manner which is unbecoming of an employee in your position
• Your conduct has brought CSA into disrepute.

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