Delron Buckley opens up about his spat with Steve Komphela

27 March 2017 - 14:08 By Marc Strydom
subscribe Just R20 for the first month. Support independent journalism by subscribing to our digital news package.
Subscribe now
A file photo of former AmaZulu head coach Delron Buckley during a National First Division match against Highlands Park at Makhulong Stadium in Tembisa on 22 May 2016.
A file photo of former AmaZulu head coach Delron Buckley during a National First Division match against Highlands Park at Makhulong Stadium in Tembisa on 22 May 2016.
Image: Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images

Delron Buckley has given insight into the feud he had with Kaizer Chiefs coach Steve Komphela three years ago.

The two had a very public falling out in 2014 after Buckley’s contract was not renewed by KwaZulu-Natal club Maritzburg United while Komphela was still the head coach.

The 39-year old Buckley said at the weekend he has put the incident behind him.

  • "Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates said I was too old to play for them" - Delron BuckleyDelron Buckley says Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates said he was too old to play for them when he returned from a 13-year career in Europe in 2012.

"In my last year at Maritzburg they signed Steve Komphela. And it just didn't click between us‚” he said.

"I'm sure you guys read in the papers what happened.

"But I don't hold grudges with anyone because that's football.

"He came and we didn't get on‚ and I moved on.

"But the saddest thing is that when my contract ended at Maritzburg I didn't get any offers.

"I got in contact with a few clubs‚ and they weren't interested. So what can you do?

"In South Africa we have this mentality that at 35 a player cannot play any more. But why? In Europe there are players still playing at 36 or 37.

"The age shouldn't matter. Shoes Moshoes was still buzzing at Chiefs [at 40]."

Buckley was speaking at the launch of his book‚ "Delron Buckley‚ My Life"‚ in Durban on Friday morning. 

subscribe Just R20 for the first month. Support independent journalism by subscribing to our digital news package.
Subscribe now