Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley has defended his relationship with Heritier Lumumba after the retired Magpie lashed out at his former coach.
Lumumba, who played 199 games for Collingwood and was part of their 2010 premiership side, has described his fractured bond with Buckley in an SBS documentary to be aired this month.
The Brazilian-born midfielder claimed Buckley had made light of “racist and homophobic banter” at the club, according to a Fairfax Media report on Saturday.
Lumumba also reportedly put up with being nicknamed “chimp” because he wanted to fit in with his teammates.
Speaking after the Pies’ loss to Geelong on Saturday, Buckley said he had been unaware of the nickname, and suggested Lumumba had characterised their relationship unfairly.
“It’s a bit sad, in many ways, that H feels that way about his experiences in the game,” Buckley said.
“I suppose I’d echo the sentiments of the club, just hoping that he’s doing well and that he can still see the positives of his experience as an AFL footballer as well.
“I’ve personally always looked out for and been aware of H’s issues or his concerns or challenges, and tried to support him as best I possibly can in my role as teammate, captain and then coach.
“There’s a bit more that goes on than just the one anecdote at one moment.”
Lumumba was traded to Melbourne at the end of 2014 but retired two years later after a dispute with the Demons about their handling of his repeated concussions.
The Dees remained adamant they had handled Lumumba’s situation appropriately.
Martin
Guest
Seems like Harry Lumumba needed to say something controversial to make the upcoming SBS documentary interesting and worthwhile watching. Now it should be a ratings winner.
Burkey
Guest
Yeah agree...Harry O also apparently claimed recently he still mourns Kofi Annan until someone told him he was still alive! He was a high maintenance player for sure.
GiveBucksAChance
Guest
Setting the record straight is one thing but kicking a person while they are down is another. Every footy club has challenges in dealing with racism, sexism and homophobia amongst its ranks and I think everybody knows given its history (The Clubs Presidents statement in 93, Eddies brain fade in relation to Goodes, the Long and Winmar incidents) that Collingwood probably has more than most other clubs, at least in relation to the former. Heritier you are better than this.
Ozibatla
Guest
A quality player was Harry O but boy ohh boy is he an attention seeking righteous prima donna. I actually read that he is still getting over the death of Mohammed Ali... C'mon mate, pleeease!
Gecko
Guest
Harry O's story is not just another beat up story. Absolutely he was a very politically correct sort of guy but Collingwood should have benefited more from his insights (like we benefited from his fantastic dashes off half back) and for even respectable blokes like Maxwell to say he thought the 'chimp' name was just a joke shows how far the club still has to go. In the last three decades, when other clubs have benefited greatly from indigenous players, we've had neon Leon but how many other indigenous players have played 100 games at the Pies? Your own status quo response seems to reflect the same head-in-te-sand attitude that has left the Pies' club culture well behind many other clubs.
Paul D
Roar Guru
It's hard to take complaints from Lumumba seriously given the lengthy list of divisive incidents he's left in his wake. Can't imagine this upcoming doco is going to change too many people's minds about him
Bobbie
Guest
His point and that of bravo horse below is that the nickname of chimp does not have to have racist connotations since white players have also carried the nickname in sn affectionate way.
Cat
Roar Guru
Absolutely nothing to be envious of.
Cat
Roar Guru
Been hearing the same excuses from Pies fans for 6 years now ... wit until next year ... next year ... the next year ... the year after that ...
Burkey
Guest
Careful True Tiger, that comment you made is actually racist. His whole point and the point of Bravohorse is exactly that they are both white and still carry the nickname chimp. The nicknames must be the same for any skin colour or else your comment invites racism.
truetigerfan
Guest
Lou Richards was white you naff! Therefore not a racist slur!
Gordon Smith
Guest
One of the things I find disturbing is the players comment that Buckley "lacks emotional intelligence". The trend of people being "pop psychologists and "analysing others is an unfortunate development and demeaning. I am no fan of Buckley but that is a deliberately nasty thing to say.
Bravohorse
Guest
Bobby Skilton was also affectionately nicknamed Chimp .
Peter The Scribe
Guest
Pathetic response Cat. With no finals to play for 17 other clubs would love 47,000. You are clutching at straws and scared of how good we will be next year. Tick Tock cat, the cats premiership window closes this year and from what the cats showed against a pies reserves team you have no chance.
Peter The Scribe
Guest
Lou Richards was called chimp and he was as white as you can be. You are so envious of our great club you try and pull anything over us but all you do is make the true Pies stronger.
Mark
Guest
.
Maurice
Guest
Attention seeking average footballer. Showed us how average he was when moved to a very average team. At the time.
Cat
Roar Guru
Peter The Scribe
Guest
H will always be an iconic hero and Pies premiership player. The so called "spin" is nothing, if you read Caro's article instead of just pies bashing as usual you will see it's about racism in the AFL and one so called clash with Bucks in 199 games. Typical of those envious of our great club to pick out pieces instead of agreeing that all clubs have racism and homophobia as an ongoing battle they seem to be winning.
Don Freo
Guest
H would blame someone else even if he soiled his own undies. He created his social conscience persona as a party trick and people saw through it. He was and is a whinger. You have to be a team player in this game and H was divisive everywhere.