Kaizer Chiefs veteran Bernard Parker’s performance in the Soweto Derby win over Orlando Pirates has been lauded as the best Stuart Baxter has ever seen in the PSL.
The 35-year-old returned to the starting line-up for the clash against their fierce rivals and turned back the clock with a Man of the Match display as they won 2-1 at Orlando Stadium.
Parker produced a tireless display and pulled the strings in midfield for Amakhosi, dispelling the criticism that he may be too old to produce the performances that prolonged his career to over a decade at Chiefs.
Currently, in the final year of his contract, Baxter showered Parker with praise as he celebrated his 30th derby with a memorable performance.
“Bernard Parker probably gave one of the best performances I’ve seen in from a PSL player, so the talk of people saying he’s too old, I think people should absolutely put that one away for a while anyway because if he plays like that he gets into any team in the PSL,” he said in the post-match press conference.
“Bernard ran more than anyone in the team today, he ran over 13kms. David Beckham was praised to the high heavens when he ran 12.4km against Greece in a World Cup qualifier for England, Bernard ran over 13.”
Baxter admits it doesn’t take much to motivate Parker to put on the Chiefs shirt and play his heart out in the manner he did due to his sheer professionalism and hinted that the doubters have spurned him on further.
“What I say to him? Bernard is a marvellous human being, he’s a great footballer, a model-professional but he’s a great human being,” Baxter explained.
“So you can talk to Bernard on a level that is not just to fire him up to play football – I think Bernard thrives on stretching himself.
“Stretching himself as a person, stretching himself as a player, stretching himself to be what Kaizer Chiefs need him to be. And if he sits in the stands, he will be the best player on the stands, if he sits on the bench, he will be a great bench player and that’s his attitude.
“All I do is try and make sure he stays in that zone where he can give that sort of performance, it’s his credit that he can still give it. Even if I give some sort of inspiration, the motivation comes from Bernard Parker, nowhere else.”
Parker has scored four goals and registered two assists in 18 games across all competitions for Chiefs in his midfield role this season.
