By Sameer Naik
While former Bafana Bafana star Delron Buckley continues his search for a club to play for, reports from Germany suggest the midfielder may apply for unemployment benefits.
The 32-year-old, currently club-less, was released by Cypriot side Anorthosis Famagusta at the end of last season and has ever since struggled to find a new club.
His agent, Rob Moore, was unavailable for comment on Friday, but is said to be working hard to help his client find a club as the football season is well underway.
Buckley thought it would be "easy" to find a new club in Germany this season, but the 32-year-old was surprised to find that not a single club was interested in him.
Buckley now finds himself training with the Union of Contracted Football Players in Germany, an organisation for professional footballers who do not have clubs.
These free agents train together and play matches as a team until they do find a new club. His old club, Bochum, with whom he had two spells, were so unimpressed with him that they would not let him train with their squad.
And with the new season in Germany starting soon, and no clubs on the horizon, he is getting desperate. "I thought it would be easier," he said. "This is a situation I am not familiar with, but at the Union at least I have found a rhythm, a structure to train."
Buckley said although it would be embarrassing for him, he may need to apply for unemployment benefits.
Buckley's career began with his local team Butcherfille Rovers Durban, but when he was 17 he was signed by German club VfL Bochum.
Buckley has spent most of his career in Germany.