The father of promising young Somerset seam bowler Jacobi Robinson yesterday broke silence over Bermuda Cricket Board's failure to cover his son's medical costs while he was enrolled in a two-month course in South Africa earlier this year.

Wayne (Spike) Richardson, a former Western Stars left-arm orthodox spinner, accused the Board of showing "little" interests toward both Robinson and Jekon Edness who completed the challenging course at the Port Elizabeth International Cricket Academy earlier this month, stating: "These are two youngsters who are a part of our future and we should be encouraging our young people."

Robinson ruffled a few feathers at the BCB when he decided to abort the course and return home prematurely after it was discovered he had sustained injury to his lower back as a direct result of a "mixed" bowling action.

The Somerset player has since resumed his training at the West End where he continues to rectify his bowling action.

When contacted yesterday, the Board declined to comment on the matter.

"It is just unacceptable Jacobi had to pay for his own insurance problems when he was away representing his country," Richardson argued. "Normally when people travel overseas for their country they are insured just in case something happens so that they can obtain access immediately to treatment.

"Jacobi had to be driven back and forth to see the therapist in a taxi everyday and pay his way for a month and a half. It's just unacceptable and no-one at the Board has said anything about it. Every week it was money, money, money.

"Family members and friends helped out and it was very difficult because no-one expected that. The taxi fare worked out to be just as expensive as the treatment itself," he added.

By Richardson's own account, Robinson had to fork out in excess of $2,000 to cover costs for having bone scans on his back as well as having to foot the costs of day-to-day off-campus living expenses.

The fact no officials greeted the two youngsters upon their arrival from studies overseas in South Africa further demonstrated the Board's lack of support toward the players, said Richardson.

"Nobody has said anything about these guys being on the trip. Nobody greeted them at the airport when they arrived back home or even acknowledged these players for being there. It's like they were just left on their own," he said.

"If we are going to do well in sports then we have to let our athletes know that our country cares. And we just haven't seen that in this situation. I am a former cricketer and so I know how sportsman feel. You feel neglected and that was one of the reasons why Jacobi wanted to come back because he didn't have any support from the Board ? and you can't blame a 19 year-old half-way around the world for having those feelings."

Richardson claimed Board officials seldom spoke to the youngsters while they were abroad to keep abreast of their status.

"He (Robinson) didn't want to come back but he felt as though he was being forced to because he didn't receive any support. They (Board) would call the academy and speak to the coaches but very seldom did they speak to the players themselves," he added.

"I am not being ungrateful but I think the Board haven't shown sufficient interest or support to these two young men. These two youngsters are a part of our future and I think it is time we started encouraging our young people."