Former Kaizer Chiefs and Bafana Bafana star Bernard Parker is already looking ahead to the next chapter of his football career after his departure from TS Galaxy.
Parker has confirmed that he will begin studying for his UEFA coaching badges in November, taking another step towards establishing himself as a coach.
The move comes after a difficult spell in charge of TS Galaxy, which ended following a disappointing run of results and growing pressure around the club’s performances.
Parker explains TS Galaxy struggles
Parker’s position came under scrutiny after TS Galaxy suffered consecutive defeats against newly promoted Kruger United and Chippa United.
Club chairman Tim Sukazi was particularly critical of the defeat to Kruger United, describing it as the club’s “worst match ever”.
Parker, however, believes the circumstances of that game need to be considered before judging his team’s performance.
Speaking to Robert Marawa, the former striker pointed to a second-half red card that significantly changed the contest.
“Coming to being the worst game ever, getting a red card in the beginning of the (second half), and then you cannot play your own game anymore,” Parker explained.
According to Parker, being reduced to 10 men forced his side to abandon its original game plan and adapt to a completely different situation.
‘We played better’ against Chippa
Parker also rejected the idea that his team simply failed to perform in the following match against Chippa United.
He argued that TS Galaxy had prepared thoroughly during the week and produced a much-improved performance, but ultimately paid the price for failing to convert their opportunities.
“It’s normal; it’s football,” Parker said, explaining the difficulty of maintaining the original approach after going down to 10 men.
Reflecting on the Chippa defeat, he added that Galaxy had played with greater confidence and had been in control for significant periods.
“We played better. We played our game. We were fully in charge,” Parker said.
The former Bafana Bafana international believes the preparation leading into the match had a positive impact on the team’s performance, even though the result ultimately went against them.
From playing legend to aspiring coach
Parker’s departure from TS Galaxy has now been followed by a significant step in his coaching development.
The former Kaizer Chiefs forward confirmed that he has enrolled for UEFA coaching qualifications, with his studies scheduled to begin in November.
It marks another important stage in a career that has already included more than a decade as a professional player and international experience with Bafana Bafana.
The coaching journey could eventually see Parker return to the PSL in a different capacity — this time as the man in the technical area rather than on the pitch.
After the criticism surrounding his TS Galaxy spell, one question remains:
Was Bernard Parker given enough time to prove himself as a coach?
