After 18 years playing football in Europe, Buckley is looking forward to his two-year contract in the Premier League with Maritzburg United – a transfer that surprised Mzansi on Tuesday afternoon.
"I am happy to be home and looking forward to playing here," 34-year-old Buckley told KickOff.com.
"I mean, when they used to call me for the national team I never ever said no. I used to always want to come home and play because coming on the plane home to South Africa would always warm my heart."
Buckley, who won 72 caps and scored 10 goals during a decade with Bafana Bafana from 1998 to 2008, says that he has seen the impact made by his former teammates McCarthy, Nomvete and Sibusiso Zuma.
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"Well I always look on the internet to see what Benni and Zuma is doing, and Nomvete. And I saw they had great seasons.
"The action they put on the whole year was amazing and that made an impact on me and motivated me to come back," says the former Bochum, Arminia Bielefeld, Borussia Dortmund, FC Basle and Anorthosis Famagusta man.
"I haven't had private contact with the players. I did phone now and again, but it's not as strong a contact as when we were in the national team.
"But thanks to the internet and things like Kick Off magazine I have seen what it is like here in the Premier League and I am looking forward to it."
Buckley left Durban at the age of 16 after Gordon Igesund helped him get over to Germany and he never looked back.
At that time, Buckley had captained the South Africa Under 17 national team and had been developed at Butcherville Rovers, Mandene Park and Durban Ramblers in the amateur ranks.
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