Former Kaizer Chiefs striker Bernard Parker has revealed that watching the late Emmanuel ‘Scara’ Ngobese, and Gift Leremi turn out in the Soweto derby had inspired him to want to feature in the famous fixture too.
The derby pits popular clubs Chiefs and Orlando Pirates together and the latest showdown is scheduled for Saturday afternoon.
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Parker’s dream became a reality in September 2011 when he became an important figure in the colours of Amakhosi and went on to play many Soweto Derbies until he left the club in June 2022.
“My favourite player for Chiefs (in the derby) was Scara Ngobese, he was just, he could lift the crowd right, right now with any small trick, with any small individual brilliance,” Parker said in a conversation on Prime Sports with Mahlatse on YouTube.
Whilst playing for Amakhosi, the player known as ‘Die Hond’ made 30 appearances in the derby. The late Patrick ‘Ace’ Ntsoelengoe still holds the record for this derby.
“For Orlando Pirates, it was Gift Leremi so that ignited that little boy, that little fire in me as a little boy and I set a dream.
“And a goal for myself that one day I would love to play in such a match and one day is one day. And that dream came true,” he further stated.
No derby fixture has ever been without duels and those taking no prisoners as defensive duo Siyabonga Sangweni and Rooi Mahamutsa gave Parker a hard time during his time on the field.
“One of the best players, I would say, the toughest I played against I would say is Siyabonga Sangweni. Nduna, he would sit on your neck, he wouldn’t give you any breathing chance,” he said.
“And the worse mistake I did was I tried to fight against him physically and I ended up not having a good day (laughs), a good match on the day. The other toughest player at Pirates I played against was Rooi Mahamutsa.
"He was so clever, he was such a clever guy, he would read and intercept a lot of the ball. That’s like my two toughest players I played against in the Soweto derby,” Parker continued.
These days, ‘Die Hond’ plays for ambitious TS Galaxy and just recently recovered from a horrific injury that he suffered against Mamelodi Sundowns in a Carling Knockout clash earlier in the season.
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