Mark Boucher apologises for singing offensive songs and using nicknames for coloured teammates during playing days

Johannesburg: Former South Africa wicketkeeper and current head coach Mark Boucher has apologised for being part of the group that sang offensive songs and used nicknames for coloured teammates in his playing days. 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, reported ESPNcricinfo. 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. [caption id=“attachment_9032391” align=“alignnone” width=“640”] File image of Mark Boucher. Twitter @OfficialCSA[/caption] In his response to the allegations, Boucher said he and his teammates should have been more sensitive. “I apologise unreservedly for any offensive conduct, real or perceived, that has been attributed to me,” Boucher wrote in his affidavit. “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 apologise 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.