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Cape Town - Sacked Zimbabwe coach Heath Streak has laughed off racism allegations from his former employers.
Streak was recently relieved of his duties as Zimbabwe coach after the team’s failure to qualify for the 2019 Cricket World Cup.
Since his departure, Zimbabwe Cricket chairperson Tavengwa Mukuhlani had reportedly also accused Streak of treating white and black players differently.
In an exclusive interview with Sport24, the former fast bowler said the allegations of racism were “laughable”.
“I think Zimbabwe Cricket have far too often tried to use the race card as a way to deviate from the actual issues of poor governance. They need to start looking at themselves in the mirror. All the players I have coached and the people around me know me well enough. I don’t even need to try to vindicate myself or qualify why I’m not a racist,” Streak said.
Streak hinted that he might seek legal advice.
“Not only do I speak Ndebele, my wife and I have a black foster son. I was pretty upset by Mukuhlani’s comments and it’s something I’m considering taking action against in the future. The statements against me are not only defamatory, but they are also damaging. I have spent a lifetime building my reputation and for him to say something like that publicly is not acceptable. I take it extremely seriously."
Streak added: “I agree 100 percent with Ray Price (former Zimbabwe spinner) who said: ‘Racism is not the problem in Zimbabwean cricket. Bad cricket management is the problem.’ It’s now about getting the correct personnel involved and people with the requisite skills to be able to run an organisation as big as Zimbabwe Cricket. I’m pretty hopeful that this episode will prove to be the catalyst that brings people’s attention to the changes that need to occur within Zimbabwean cricket.”
