Following an 11-year stint with Kaizer Chiefs, Bernard Parker stepped into new territory at ambitious TS Galaxy at the beginning of the past season. It did not go without challenges. Eventually, though, the side managed to survive relegation comfortably, but it was certainly a different experienced to what the man nicknamed "Hond" was used to at Naturena. In this interview with Soccer Laduma's Tshepang Mailwane, the Boksburg-born striker opens up about his first season with the Rockets, why bad news sells over good news, and the advice he has given to teammate Given Msimango as he prepares for life at Amakhosi.
Tshepang Mailwane: You've just completed your first season with TS Galaxy. What was it like?
Bernard Parker: It was a season of being in a totally new family and a totally new experience. I joined the team late when the season was in progress and I walked straight into the team, which is not easy for a person who came from a totally different environment. I think my professionalism helped me in terms of adapting quicker to the culture and style. The season started off well for us and with that good start, it drew a lot of attention on the team. The club felt that we needed to expose the team even further and the overseas trip was organised for us during the World Cup break. We learnt a lot from that side with regards to football in all different ways and we brought that experience back to the PSL. But every time we had an opportunity to get into the Top Eight, we lost, but I still think we kept on competing, with a small squad of 24 to 26 players and with the injuries. We kept on competing, but we let the chance of getting into the Top Eight go. We had about four occasions where we could have slipped into the Top Eight, but we couldn't. I came into the team to add value and help the youngsters for improvement because I believe that personal improvement is vital. If individuals improve, they will help a lot in terms of team performance.
TM: Sure…
BP: Yeah, so a lot of individuals improved under the leadership and guidance of the coach and senior players. A lot of players improved, such as (Kamogelo) Sebelebele and (Tshegofatso) Nyama, who played in an unfamiliar role as left back. Given Msimango showed the country what he is made of and he got himself recognition from Kaizer Chiefs. Melusi Buthelezi became number one and he got into the Bafana Bafana squad and he is now on the books of Orlando Pirates. You've also got Bathusi Aubaas, who is making us proud at Bafana. There's Sphiwe Mahlangu, who has been scoring goals and helping us. I'm glad that four or five players are getting recognition from bigger clubs and Bafana and that I played a role in adding value to the team and bringing stability in the midfield with the experience I have. I commend the coach for keeping us together during certain challenges that we faced.
TM: A lot seemed to have happened in the past season, such as rumours of unpaid salaries and the club possibly getting sold. How did you deal with all of this?
BP: With everything that was going on, we adopted a strategy, which we turned into a culture, with regards to mental strength. We would do a lot of motivational clips and preparation with regards to the mindset so that we don't lose the workmanship amongst each other. The demands of hard work kept us competing.
TM: What was the issue with salaries?
BP: There was an issue, but that issue got resolved very quickly. It's just that things came out differently in the public. The issues were resolved quickly by the chairman (Tim Sukazi) and the board itself, which is normal because I'm sure other clubs face issues like these, but they just didn't expose them in public. It's just unfortunate that we had somebody internally who exposed those issues, but those issues did not affect us much because the chairman fixed them quickly. But just because of how it was put out in the public, it put a bad reflection on us, which was not the case internally.
TM: But was there no frustration from the players if salaries were not coming or maybe not coming in on time?
BP: Uhm… I wouldn't say it was frustration. It's just that external people tried to get things from us. And by external people, I mean it can be agents or whoever. But internally, I did not see players showing any frustration.
TM: As a senior player, what role did you play during that period?
BP: I played a big brother role in terms of dealing with the situation and advising them in terms of the challenges we faced. I cannot say much, but we as senior players did play a part. We've got this family culture at the team where we help each other, so we helped each other during challenges. It was not only this challenge but other challenges, like a death in the family or if your child was sick or needed to see a doctor. We help solve situations like that. With the challenges that we faced, we kept our heads up and we kept the performance. The management kept us in the loop in terms of what was happening and what's going to come. We were all on the same page with regards to things at the club. I'd like to commend the chairman, the coach and everyone at the club. The situation was quickly resolved. It was just dragged outside, hence we did good in the final stages of the season. Also, we got our win bonuses, so everything was back to normal. But South Africa sees the drama but they don't want to talk about the good stuff. If South Africa would have followed up on the good stuff, where in the last stages of the league we won our matches and got our bonuses… nobody is saying anything about that. So, I just think that's how things are designed in South Africa, where bad news sells and good news does not sell as much. We got incentivized for our wins, but those things were never mentioned. And as I said, TS Galaxy is not the only team in the PSL to come across a hiccup. It's just that it was exposed by someone internally, which is very unprofessional.
TM: Who is that 'someone'?
BP: There were rumours internally, but we did not know who it was. The technical staff and management felt that they should keep it to themselves and not tell us so that we don't get disturbed in terms of focus.
TM: Let's move on. What big differences did you notice between Galaxy and Chiefs?
BP: You know, I was at Chiefs for 11 years, so I got used to the culture and the environment, I got used to the office staff, the background staff, the groundsmen, the cleaning ladies. I got used to them and we even became friends outside the Village (at Naturena). That's something I will never forget because that changed my whole perspective of life and how I see that we grow with people and we uplift one another. There's this certain culture at Chiefs where the slogan speaks for itself – the Love and Peace – both on and off the field. It's just incredible. And then you also get a lot of attention elsewhere in the public when you are a Kaizer Chiefs player. Also, Chiefs changed my life, my family's life and my extended family's life. I also had a lot of friends. And now coming to TS Galaxy, it's now a smaller family, which is an unbelievable experience. Everyone is on the same level of respect and same level of appreciation, gratitude and eagerness to become better and work hard.
I cannot compare the two environments, but I can explain how different they are. I lost a lot of friends – the fake friends – and now I get to appreciate my true friends. The supporting staff at Galaxy has just got this special humility. They come to work happy and they are ready to do anything for you. If you kick the ball far over the goalposts and it lands in the bushes, they will run and go fetch it. Whereas at Chiefs, it was different. There was this high fence there, so if you kicked it over the goalposts, the ball would just come back. So, those are the small things that were made easier at Chiefs and I see now and I tend to appreciate. At Chiefs, everything is ready when you get there. Here, you've got the supporting staff who run around for smaller things. We don't have our own Village or training base. We have to pack and set up every day, whereas at Chiefs it's just there. Those smaller things make me appreciate and understand what other people go through and that makes me appreciate them for their hard work.
TM: How do you know that people are fake friends?
BP: It's easy. Not only in football, but life in general. The fake friends are the ones who only want from you. You can see they are friends with you for what they can get, whether it's a pair of socks or a cap from you because they know what position you are in and that you get stuff. So, they will always see what they can get out of you, including money. It's also with family members. There's an expectation that because you play for Chiefs, you must pay for a funeral and you must do this and that.
TM: Imagine!
BP: Just imagine. So, now at Galaxy, you don't hear from some of these friends. When I was at Chiefs and I would check up on some people, they would say, "Give me a ticket for your game." Now that I am at Galaxy and I do a normal check up on them, some will reply to you a week later or some won't converse with you much. I think that's just in general. I'm glad I'm one of those individuals who learn quickly in terms of who is real and who is not.
TM: What are you looking forward to doing better next season compared to the past one?
BP: I am yet to have a conversation with the chairman with regards to this coming season because we are on off-season. When we get back, I'll definitely have that chance to speak to the chairman with regards to the way forward because I see myself beyond playing because of my Sports Marketing, Sports Management and now I am doing Sports Psychology and Life Coaching. I've also got my coaching CAF C Licence. With those Ballon d'Ors in my bag, I see myself at the club beyond my playing days. I see my qualifications as Ballon d'Ors. For now, I'm still a player and I'm hoping the club will exercise the option in my contract. I need to sit down and speak to the chairman.
TM: Did you get a chance to speak to Msimango as he prepares to join Amakhosi?
BP: I had coffee with him recently because we are from the same hood – he's from Brakpan and I'm from Boksburg. They are next to each other. I told him what to expect at the club since I know the culture of the club. I told him how to conduct himself and to give his best to help the club and to get Bafana recognition and beyond. I did prepare him on the holistic part of Chiefs, on what to expect and exploit. He was very happy about that and I hope he will invite me to matches and give me tickets, since that's what people did when I was there, ha, ha, ha.
TM: C'mon, man, don't be a fake friend now…
BP: Ha, ha, ha. But Given has all the qualities to be a leader. He's got leadership qualities which I admire, and he will definitely add great value at the club.
TM: Thanks for your time, Hond.
BP: Thank you.
Parker On His Book
"I believe the modern professional that I am, I need to share my story with the modern professional. Also, I think my upbringing was very difficult and my development stages was correct through the School (of Excellence) and the decisions I made when I became a professional were good. It's mostly to inspire the upcoming footballers. Growing up in a shack, where you had one bed, one wardrobe and a table… most of us don't break through those challenges for us to achieve our dreams. It's just to inspire the youth so that they know whatever challenges they face, they can achieve anything."
BERNARD PARKER FACT FILE
Full name: Bernard Melvin Parker
Date of birth: 16 March 1986
Nickname: Die Hond
Position: Striker-cum-midfielder
Jersey number: 17
Club: TS Galaxy
Previous clubs: Transnet School of Excellence, Mamelodi Sundowns juniors, Benoni Premier United, Thanda Royal Zulu, Red Star Belgrade (Serbia), FC Twente (Netherlands), Panserraikos (Greece), Kaizer Chiefs
Honours: 73 Bafana Bafana caps, 2009/10 Dutch Eredivisie winner, 2010 Dutch Super Cup winner (both with FC Twente), 2012/13 2014/15 League winner, 2013 Nedbank Cup winner, 2014 MTN8 winner, 2021 CAF Champions League runner-up (all with Chiefs)
