Boucher, Bavuma’s bond is stronger than ever
MARK Boucher and Temba Bavuma. From the outside, a union as inconceivable as oil and water.
The one considered by large parts of the country to be a racist. The other a beacon of black African excellence. A relationship destined for the divorce court if ever there was one.
But yet with only a couple of months left before Boucher exits the Proteas national team to join up with the Mumbai Indians, the bond between coach and captain is as strong as it’s ever been.
Often the greatest alliances are built upon mutual suffering, and individually they have endured the worst vitriol of a much-divided South African nation.
Before it was Bavuma that had leapt to Boucher’s defence during his travails. Now it was Boucher’s turn to steadfastly support his skipper after the public furore that broke out over Bavuma’s omission from the SA20 League earlier this week.
“Let’s separate the national team from the league for a moment,” Boucher told the media on Wednesday ahead of the Proteas departure to India for a limited-overs tour. “What happens in leagues and auctions, you can’t control that; unfortunately, it is what it is. From a Proteas perspective, we do back him 100% and going into a massive tournament like a (T20) World Cup, he will be a massive part of our team.
“Temba Bavuma is our leader, and I back him 100%. Yes, there is a lot of talk on social media about all the stuff, about this and that; I don’t really care. He is our leader, and we back him in this team like you can’t believe.
“The guys were there last night, we were having a couple of drinks, and I could just see the energy around him because I understand the situation he is going through.
The bottom line is we are on a journey, and we have been on a journey the last two years.”
All the words of comfort and support from Boucher and the rest of the Proteas group cannot, however, hide the fact that Bavuma has been visibly hurt, not just by his omission, but also the scandal that has erupted around it, especially with the narrative once again focusing on his race.
In the true essence of a good leader, Bavuma felt it was “not the right time” to address this issue right now with the Proteas set to embark on an all-important tour of
India that forms a critical part of the build-up to the T20 World Cup in Australia next month.
He could, however, not hide his disappointment at not being considered for the SA20 League.
“I’m cautioning myself not to delve too deep into the matter. As much as I want to perhaps speak about the issue too, it’s not the right time. Our focus is India and the T20 World Cup. Whenever the right time comes, I’ll look more into it.
“But I’d be lying if I said I didn’t have any feelings of disappointment. Obviously one expected to play a role in the tournament. But it’s not just me, it’s Andile (Phehlukwayo) too, a man who’s played a lot of white ball cricket for South Africa.
“I almost feel let down in a way. I don’t think it comes down to any entitlement on my side. You want to be selected on whatever merit and credentials.”
Boucher and Bavuma, with the rest of the Proteas, visited Robben Island earlier this week and perhaps while visiting the cell of South Africa’s late former president Nelson Mandela they both realised that the greatest triumphs have often stemmed from surviving great adversity.