He may have come under some heavy criticism in the past, but Bernard Parker's virtuoso Soweto Derby performance proved why 'Die Hond' remains an integral part of Kaizer Chiefs' plans.
It's hard to tell that Saturday marked Parker's 30th Soweto Derby overall. Rather, the 35-year-old looked like a teenager on debut, eager to make a name for himself in one of the biggest fixtures in South African football.
He had covered the most ground of any other Chiefs player on the day (10.9km), was very cautious in possession and hardly gave the ball away. He played an important role in setting up the opener for Reeve Frosler and deservedly walked away with the Man of the Match award.
After the match, coach Stuart Baxter heaped praise on the veteran attacker, saying that it was one of Parker's best games for Chiefs in both his stints with the club.
"Bernard Parker probably gave one of the best performances I've seen of a PSL player today. Talk of him being too old, people should absolutely put that one away for a while anyway. If he plays like that, he would get into any team in the PSL. Bernard ran more than anybody else in the team, he ran over 13 kilometres. David Beckham was praised up to the high heavens when he ran 12.4 kilometres in a World Cup qualifier for England," Baxter stated on the club's official website.
With this past weekend's appearance against an old foe, Parker also moved within one match of equaling Siphiwe Tshabalala's record of having the most Soweto Derby appearances (31).
With his contract coming to an end at the end of the campaign, Parker has made a strong case of why a renewal at Amakhosi is possible. He has made 18 appearances in all competitions this season and has scored four goals.
View all the action from Saturday's Soweto Derby!
