The Mercury
The school cricket coach who lost his job when he tried to resolve an impasse with a disgruntled father whose son was dropped from the captaincy of the first team has settled his matter with the school. Picture: Shan Pillay
Durban – The school cricket coach who lost his job when he tried to resolve an impasse with a disgruntled father whose son was dropped from the captaincy of the first team has settled his matter with the school.
Bruce Roberts, 50, took St Charles College in Pietermaritzburg to the CCMA where the matter was settled.
Roberts also lodged a grievance, stemming from October last year, against the first team coach, Dave Karlsen, which he said remained unresolved.
Roberts said that recently he had been approached by an independent person appointed by the school to investigate the deselection of the cricketer from first team captain to the second team.
Given his experience as cricket head over the past year, particularly being sidelined in any consultations over the high court application, he said he elected “not to add legitimacy to the investigation” and would play no part in it whatsoever.
Roberts added that the terms of the settlement were confidential and that he was “entirely satisfied with how the matter has been resolved”.
He said he was relieved to have put his experience as head of cricket at the school behind him and was looking forward to the next chapter, in which he would be involved in private coaching as well as in cricket development, focusing on the cricket upliftment and skills transfer to the many disadvantaged communities in and around the city.
St Charles College headmaster Allen van Blerk would not comment, but confirmed that the matter had been settled.
The father has alleged in court papers that his 17-year-old son was axed because of racism.
The case was adjourned to a date to be arranged because both parties agreed to mediation. When that failed, the school filed responding papers saying that the boy had lapsed in form.
He had scored only 17 runs in seven matches.
Allegations of racism were denied.
Both parties were waiting for a new court date for a judge to hear the case.
Meanwhile, the father had served a letter of demand on Karlsen, for R2.1 million, claiming the boy had suffered damage to his dignity and reputation.
This matter has not gone to court yet.
The Mercury
