Former Chiefs player back after 4-month leg break

TS Galaxy’s Bernard Parker is back. The former Kaizer Chiefs player is ready for contact training.

FORMER KAIZER CHIEFS STAR BERNARD PARKER BACK FOR TS GALAXY

It was in October last year when tragedy struck. Parker faced a heavy tackle from Mamelodi Sundowns’ Bongani Zungu in the Carling Knockout last 32 game. The result was a gory broken leg. Witnesses said the 37-year-old career was over.

Speaking to the media this week, the Boksburg-born player is ready for his return.

What about the typical psychological fear after serious injuries? Well, Parker is just excited to get going.

“I have been doing non-contact training with the ball and have been cleared to do full contact training with the rest of the squad,” the former Chiefs player said via SowetanLIVE.

“I am more than ready to come back and compete again because the doctor said this leg will be stronger than the other one. I am more eager to go into tackles to test myself, and I can’t wait,” concluded the former Chiefs player.

BERNARD PARKER AT TS GALAXY

So, how was the player known as ‘Die Hond’ doing at The Rockets before the injury? The former FC Twente and Benoni Premier United striker arrived at Galaxy in August 2022 and became a regular.

2022/23 Season:

• 26 appearances
• Three goals
• Four assists.

2023/24 Season:

• Nine appearances
• Zero goals
• Zero assists.

NATURENA LEGEND

Parker famously cried in March 2022 after he won the Man of the Match award on his 30th Soweto Derby.

“As a footballer, throughout my career. I always made sure I put in a good performance; if I put in a good performance, everything else will follow,” Parker said, as quoted by iDiskiTimes.

“I am a hard worker through my career. I have worked very hard and still working hard to make history. Today was a historic day, you know…on my 30th derby. I got the Man of the Match. Out of these 30 derbies, I won nine, I drew eight and lost four.

“I think that is a good record for me. It is an honour to represent Kaizer Chiefs and being part of the Soweto Derby.

“This is here, goes out to Mr. [Kaizer] Motaung. Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to represent this big club. I represent it with great honour,” Parker concluded.

Meanwhile, Parker left Chiefs after 60 goals and 40 assists in 363 games. He became an Amakhosi legend when, as a senior player, he helped the club to two DStv Premiership titles, a Telkom Knockout trophy and the MTN8 Cup.