Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley says he’s keen to reach out to Heritier Lumumba, but the former Magpie has no interest in sitting down with the AFL club’s hierarchy behind closed doors.
Lumumba, who alleges he was subjected to racist taunts during his time at the club, wants a public acknowledgement that his claims are true before he will engage in discussions.
“Interesting that Collingwood is now shifting its narrative to claim that they are trying to ‘reach out’ to me,” Lumumba tweeted on Friday.
“Let me (be) very clear: I have no intention of sitting down with anyone until they publicly acknowledge some fundamental facts.
“Why a public acknowledgement? Because I have been discredited publicly.
“I don’t want a private handshake. I want justice for how I was treated. That includes correcting public denials about my account of the racism and isolation I faced.
“Collingwood needs to acknowledge the following: They did not have the cultural competence and organisational literacy to deal with a real culture of racism at the club, of which I was a victim for a number of years.”
After Collingwood’s draw with Richmond in the AFL season re-opener on Thursday night, Buckley said he’d not spoken to Lumumba since the former defender was traded to Melbourne.
“I’m not comfortable with the fact that Heritier feels like he’s been belittled and diminished in our environment,” Buckley said.
“I haven’t spoken to ‘H’ since 2014. I’d love to speak to him again.
“I would love to have him come to his old football club and to see what we have become, and the culture of acceptance, a celebration of difference no matter your colour, your religion or whatever your upbringing has been.”
Lumumba took to social media this week to detail his experiences during 10 years at the Magpies, claiming he endured a “culture of racist jokes” and took magic mushrooms to cope with the situation.
The 33-year-old, who retired from football in 2016 after repeated concussion problems, also accused Buckley of failing to adequately support him.
Lumumba said neither the AFL nor Collingwood had the capacity or desire to address the issues he raised, branding them both “negligent”.
He also reiterated the claim that he was called “Chimp” by Collingwood teammates, which was publicly backed up by Andrew Krakouer in 2017.
While not specifically addressing that claim, Buckley said Collingwood had “been able to grow as an environment” in the time that has passed since Lumumba left.
“Collingwood is making statements about their ‘growth’,” Lumumba continued.
“But this has dragged out over six years because they have refused to take the step of acknowledging that my account of my experience was true.
“Growth means accountability. Reconciliation without accountability is not possible.”
Magpies forever
Guest
Maybe the issue his him and not the club? Maybe his team mates didn't like him and thought he was a bit of a tool?
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
I would put this statement with the likes of the following: “The coach has the Board’s, the CEO’s and Football Manager’s full support” followed, two days later, by the coach’s sacking. —– In other words, these are words said to decoy the listener from the truth. Lumumba was probably trying to play happy families. —– I don’t think there’d be any racism from Bucks but l imagine Lumumba had experienced it.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
Condescension is not a good look on you. Implying I’m slow of brain is offensive. I’ve read his post before. —– Maybe you missed this: “True but the ball will be then at his, Lumumba’s, feet. And it’ll be his response for all to see…..good or bad. It ultimately falls on the person making the call.”
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Read Ron the Bears quote below Rowdy. Then make up your own mind.
Dan in Devon
Guest
When lateline made the allegations of sexual abuse and rampant pedophilia against the Mutitjula community, the community was investigated by the Australian Crime Commission who found no truth to the allegations. In fact, the 'youth worker' who was paraded by Lateline was no other than a government official who had not spent a single night at the community. Howard used the Lateline story as part of his reasoning for suspending the Race Discrmination Act and compulsorily acquiring control of 300 kms of land on which the community lived. If you want to talk about sexual abuse and violence against women, I suggest to take a look at White Australia first. But then again Australian are quite forgiving of sportsmen who have committed act of violence and abuse against women- but there is no such levity displayed towards the Aboriginal community. Quite simply, endemic and systemic racism.
Jonboy
Roar Rookie
So you would be aware of the killing, raping and abuse that these people are doing to one another. Where are the city protestors ? People are dying in custody but not being murdered or killed by Police, check the facts and truth. The mob call on police to be reformed will not help, they are doing there best to save lives
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Thanks to Ron the bear for this quote ...this was Harry in 2014 after leaving Collingwood: “Bucks and I have known each other for 10 years. Even when he was not at the club, he was a huge resource for me, and I am sure he will continue to be. I look forward to still having him in my life. There is no animosity at all.”
Ron The Bear
Roar Rookie
“Bucks and I have known each other for 10 years. Even when he was not at the club, he was a huge resource for me, and I am sure he will continue to be. I look forward to still having him in my life. There is no animosity at all.” – Harry 2014. Unless something has happened since, Harry needs to STFU.
Marty
Roar Rookie
Well I work in the NW of WA with kids who have been removed from their parents and from my experience it’s done as a last resort and for very good reasons. These are highly traumatised children with complex emotional and behavioural needs being removed from totally dysfunctional households where they are exposed to things that no child should be. Every effort is made to place them with extended family however if they are not willing/capable then they are placed with non-indigenous carers, who are just normal people trying to balance full time work with caring for these high needs children, not nasty white fellas looking to ‘steal’ kids away.
shifty
Roar Rookie
He could have still made a living from football. He wasn't exactly a spud. Another team would have traded for him or drafted him in the pre season draft.
Goalsonly
Roar Rookie
Yeah well a knee on your head is never a good look.
George Apps
Roar Rookie
H may be taking advantage of the present world situation because he knows he won't be heard otherwise?
Goalsonly
Roar Rookie
Big issue at the moment so timely steps towards some kind of dialogue. We are all the same to quote Michael Jackson (Can you feel it). Is the taking of the knee some kind of reenactment of Floyds murder? It sure looks like it so either do something altogether different or go the whole way and put the ball under the knee to look like his head.
Dan in Devon
Guest
Racism is endemic in Australia. We have an indigenous population that is treated scandalously and the UN has repeatedly condemned the appallingly conditions in which many indigenous communities live. Remember when Rudd said sorry - he also said there would not be a dollar of compensation. And we now know that the following year 400 Aboriginal children were taken from their parents (albeit most were returned). And just last month, Rio Tinto 'blew up' Aboriginal sites in WA where independent archeologists confirmed discoveries of artefacts and remains up to 40,000 years old. And dont forget that in 2008 the ABC and the Australian Govt falsified claims about paedophilia so they could 'intervene' in NT communities where there are large uranium deposits. And time and time again the UN urges Australia to bring dignity and justice to its indigenous communities.
RT
Roar Rookie
Perhaps he still wanted to make a living playing the sport he loved. Even if that outweighed the negative experiences, it doesn't mean it cancelled it out and that it should be forgotten.
shifty
Roar Rookie
I just don't understand why you'd stick around if it was as bad as he says.
Jonboy
Roar Rookie
Nobody likes racism we have come along way despite what some uninformed people think and these protesters. Most of these are city based activists who have other agendas. I spent 50 years in the north west of WA living going to school with indigenous people playing sport with and against them. I know these people would resent these selfish people putting there elders at risk.
sven
Roar Rookie
maybe he has a point re getting called “chimp” but this bloke also has a history of dramatics. recall his carry on in the media about some “homophobic” poster at the club, his admission of dropping mushies might explain some of his other utterances in the media. might be suffering relevance deprivation syndrome.
Marty
Roar Rookie
So obviously racism isn’t such a big deal to you.
shifty
Roar Rookie
I'm not doubting or condoning they way H says that he was treated. What I find interesting is that it took so long to seek a trade. If I'm in a workplace and it's messing with my mental health to the point that I'm using shrooms to self medicate then I'm getting out of there as quickly as possible. To have played 223 games at AFL level including a premiership and All Australian selection he could obviously play. I don't think he would have had trouble getting another club. Even if he went to the pre season draft he would have been picked up by someone.