It has become a tradition at most clubs that they reward long-serving players with positions within the structures when they retire and a former Kaizer Chiefs striker feels hard done by after not getting a non-playing role following 11 years at the club.
After parting ways with Bernard Parker at the end of the 2021/22 season, following the expiry of his contract, Amakhosi made a special announcement that they will sit down with the former Bafana Bafana forward to offer him a position beyond his playing days.
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"Kaizer Chiefs management will sit down with Parker to look at options of bringing him on board in a different capacity after his playing days," the Glamour Boys said in a statement.
During that time, in June 2022, Amakhosi parted ways with as many as 12 players,including Parker, Ramahlwe Mphahlele, Siphosakhe Ntiya-Ntiya, Dumisani Zuma, Anthony Akumu, Kearyn Baccus, Daniel Akpeyi, Leonardo Castro, Lebogang Manyama, Daniel Cardoso, Lazarous Kambole and Samir Nurkovic, in a major clear-out by the club.
Parker says he feels he was wronged as Chiefs did not keep their promise and kept him waiting while he was out of contract and he had bills to pay, hence he started looking at other options and signed for TS Galaxy.
"I acknowledge that I was done wrong the way it happened but it never came close to my emotions," Parker said on Metro FM Sports.
"Most of the people were surprised, including myself and my family because I thought out of thousands of footballers in the league, maybe if I equip myself while playing I can be the player who's well equipped to deserve something after football.
"In my mind I thought it was gonna happen, it didn't happen. I was told to go on holiday and you're gonna tell us what you wanna do. I came back from the holiday and told them what I want to do, since then (they have been) quiet. My contract is done, I need to feed my family. Hence I (went) elsewhere," he added.
While at Chiefs, Parker completed Sports Management, Sports Marketing, Personal Training, Sports Nutrition and Exercise Science courses.
The 37-year-old recently completed a CAF C License Coaching Diploma, and is expected to be back in action in February next year, following his injury from the horror tackle he received from Bongani Zungu.
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