In a KickOff exclusive, Cape Town Spurs midfielder Keagan Buchanan has broken his silence on being exiled by then AmaZulu coach Romain Folz and a fresh start at Cape Town Spurs.
In a career that spans just over 12 years in professional football, with stops at Kaizer Chiefs, Maritzburg United and AmaZulu among others, Buchanan, is up there with the most experienced central midfielder the country has to offer.
A player that throughout the years has maintained the same elegance and class on the field as he does off it.
READ | Several teams set to battle for Buchanan signature
It came as a surprise then to anyone who has followed the 'The Fixer's career when then-AmaZulu coach Romain Folz, in the midst of a disastrous 22/23 season, announced that Buchanan would be released, alongside veterans Ramahlwe Mphahlele and Lehlohonolo Majoro.
"We decided to let them go elsewhere as I believe it is best for the team and best for the club," Folz told media in March 2023.
"I’m not sending any specific message based on the situation alone. I’m sending the same message that I’ve always sent. Since I arrived, I always do what is best for the team and that’s my only priority.
Following Folz' redeployment from head coach to technical director, interim head coach Ayanda Dlamini moved swiftly to reinstate the exiled trio.
Speaking exclusively to KickOff for the first time on the matter, Buchanan denied any wrongdoing during his time with Usuthu.
"For me personally, I will never bad mouth a coach," Buchanan told KickOff.
"But I think we had a good start to the season with Benni [McCarthy] there, we were doing well, we were in the CAF spots, finished second.
"Going into the next season we were fifth on the log with Truter, we were in the semi-final of the MTN8, I think the French coach [Folz] only came in the second semi-final of the MTN8 so we were already on the right path.
"For me, I think I was playing my best football before Folz came. In football, this happens. You know how quickly people forget. It can just take a few months of not playing, people forget the six months that you had at the start of the season.
Brilliant from @keagan_buchanan ??#SuperDiski @MaritzburgUtd #thefixer pic.twitter.com/x0xDkQ1MIq
— JavGazza (@JavGazza) August 16, 2020
"So the first six months, I think I was playing some of my best football, I was enjoying myself and then in in life these things happen, the French coach came, was not happy with this or that.
"That’s life you know. He took me out. He took a few players out and changed the dynamic of AmaZulu, how they play etc.
"It obviously didn’t work judging by the results and how we finished the season, almost heading into the relegation fight.
"My last season [at AmaZulu] was tough, [Folz was] out in the media blasting myself, Rama and Major [Majoro]. It wasn’t nice to experience.
"When you’ve been professional in the league for ten or eleven years. There were no discipline scandal, no nothing. All of a sudden a coach comes and says we are disrupting, that Rama is disrupting."
?? Keagan Buchanan’s outrageous goal finds the back of the net and rescues a point for AmaZulu in the #DStvPrem.?? Arrows and Pirates share the spoils in a goalless draw. pic.twitter.com/x8s0pBe8z6
— SuperSport ?? (@SuperSportTV) November 20, 2021
"I was never captain of a team, only Maritzburg United, but someone like Rama, he is a top professional. Next thing someone says you’re not performing, you’re disrupting, you have discipline issues. It wasn’t a nice experience.
"But at the end of the day, bygones be bygones. We tried to help the club stay up which they did and I think we all parted ways in good way.
"That’s life, you try to remain professional, you don’t want to bash anyone. Irrespective of what they said about you. You just have to do your job, you have a contract.
ALSO READ | AmaZulu make dramatic call on future of veteran duo
Buchanan went on to join the Urban Warriors just months after and adds that he feels a revived hunger.
"But like I said, you gain experience as you grow older. It only grows your hunger. Starting afresh at Spurs, coming to a team where I first started that gave me more push," Buchanan said.
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