Somerset medium pace bowler Jacobi Robinson has decided to continue his studies at the prestigious University of Port Elizabeth International Cricket Academy in South Africa ? despite a troublesome back injury.

His decision follows criticism from Bermuda Cricket Board, who last week released a strongly worded statement threatening to seek compensation if the player returned home early as he initially announced.

Both Robinson and another young Bermudian, Jekon Edness, are being sponsored by the BCB for the two-month course.

In a telephone interview on Saturday, Robinson told that he had first thought it would be in his best interests to return to Bermuda and there had been no objection from his coach at the academy, Sussex county player Mark Davis.

?They (academy staff) said I could leave and that it was all up to me,? said Robinson.

?But they also encouraged me to stay. They told me that if I stayed I could continue walking through my action (bowling). They have video-footage of my bowling action and they said when I returned home I could show it to Mark Harper (national coach) and he would know what to do and work along with me.

?But it?s frustrating sitting here watching everybody else train. I can only do 20 percent of the work.?

Robinson is currently undergoing physiotherapy, stretching, lower-back strengthening as well as receiving technical advice on how to modify his bowling action at the academy.

The promising bowler?s injury was originally thought to be a stress fracture suffered during a session in the nets.

?I went along and had a scan and after that the therapist said I had muscle damage. So far I?ve had therapy and a bone scan and I received a bill for it, and it was expensive,? he said.

?They (physicians) told me I had five years of damage and that it won?t heal in time to allow me to get back to 100 percent fitness and return to full training at the academy. So after talking to the coach (Davis) and Dr.Stretch, they asked me if I wanted to leave.

?I?ve paid all of this money out (medical costs) and I still have to live day-to-day here.?

However, following encouragement from Board officials and family members back home, Robinson has decided to go the distance.

?I am going to stay. When I really assess the situation, people have gone out of their way to do things for me and so I feel that I owe it to them to stay. It is a little frustrating but I think in the end I will reap the rewards by staying instead of taking the easy way out.?

Robinson said family members were prepared to fork out extra cash for any additional medical expenses.

BCB treasurer Neil Speight, meanwhile, told last Friday that there was a possibility Robinson could be reimbursed for his medical expenses when he arrived back home next month.

The bowler?s initial decision to return home early was met with condemnation by the BCB.

?If Jacobi returns not only will he be doing himself, his family, the BCB and Bermuda a grave disservice, he will also be squandering a huge investment of time and money. The BCB expects that if Jacobi chooses unilaterally to leave the academy that he should be held accountable on his return,? read the Board statement.