Legendary striker Bernard Parker opened up on how football saved him from the wrong crowds and getting into trouble.
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The story
Experienced TS Galaxy star and former Bafana Bafana forward, Bernard Parker, reflected on how a challenging upbringing and his time at the School of Excellence protected him from negative influences.
Parker is one of the major sport stars enlisted by Clinix Health Group to champion their latest courses against substance addiction.
The ex-Chiefs star is joined by Banyana Banyana legend, Portia Modise and Olympic silver medalist, Luvo Manyonga as ambassadors and the trio want to use their influence to raise awareness and educate the public about the pressing issue of substance abuse.
Parker, who grew up in Reiger Park, a township next to Boksburg, spoke to SABC Sport's Velile Mnyandu after being named as one of the Clinix Health Group ambassadors.
He told SABC Sport that he didn't hesitate when asked to take up this opportunity with Clinix and that he wants to inspire children from all walks of life while working on this initiative with the brand.
The School of Excellence product touched on how his mother made the best possible decision for him as a child by sending him to the elite academy:
"The best decision my mom made for me was to send me to the School of Excellence. It was great, it benefitted me in my adulthood. With respect, dedication, leadership, and humility, all of those principals really gives you that confidence," said Parker.
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Parker also shared a sobering revelation about the impact of cyberbullying on footballers, urging key stakeholders to support athletes in addressing the issue.
"It's a real killer in the industry because anyone in the world can send a direct message to me. And if it's a bad message, it doesn't go away; it stays on the back of your mind while on the field of play," said Parker, in quotes published by Far Post.
"This can affect the task at hand. It's really important that we have more projects and more people discussing social media and cyberbullying.
"We tend to become big-headed and then chase fame and lose focus on the job at hand, then also get lost in the system. It's important to keep the mentality at its best," concluded Parker.
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