Delron Buckley Reveals Why He Never Joined South Africa’s ‘Big Three’
Khaled Hegazy
Dailysports's expert
Delron Buckley, the former VFL Bochum winger and Bafana Bafana stalwart, has shed light on why he never joined South Africa’s top football clubs—Orlando Pirates, Kaizer Chiefs, or Mamelodi Sundowns—upon his return from Europe.
After nearly two decades in Germany, where he played for Bochum, Borussia Dortmund, and Mainz, Buckley returned home in 2012 at the age of 35. He chose to sign with Maritzburg United (now Durban City) rather than one of South Africa's "Big Three," where he played for two years before moving into coaching.
Buckley said in an exclusive interview with iDiski Times, that he was unable to join the league's elite clubs mostly due to his age.
“I really wanted to end my career at Pirates, Chiefs, or Sundowns,” Buckley said. “But I was told I was too old and wouldn’t be able to keep up with the league.”
Despite the doubts, Buckley showed his critics they were wrong. “In my first season back at 35, I was named Man of the Match four times,” he remembered.
Buckley’s story shows the difficulties older players face when they return from European football, even with strong backgrounds. With 73 appearances for the national team and lots of experience in Europe, his impact on South African football is still highly respected.
Source: [iDiski Times]
