Newly signed Kaizer Chiefs attacker Ashley Du Preez may share the dressing room with his all-time favourite Bernard Parker should the latter stay on at the club.
Chiefs are reviewing their squad and are expected to clean out with Parker one of the players likely on his way out. Du Preez, a boyhood Kaizer Chiefs fan, recently singled out Amakhosi forward Bernard Parker as his favourite player.
The former Stellenbosch FC attacker picked the game against Chiefs as his best and most memorable one since he played in the South African topflight.
Du Preez’s long-range strike in November 2021 at FNB Stadium proved enough as the Stellies defeated Amakhosi for the first time in the league. “I have to go against [a game with] Kaizer Chiefs, the goal I scored against them. That goal won us the match, and it was the most memorable moment for me,” Du Preez told FARPost.
“Since I was a little boy, I supported Chiefs. My dream was to play for them one day.” The 24-year-old, who scored nine goals this season and provided three assists, further revealed that his career dream was to score Itumeleng Khune. But, twice in an hour-long interview, he picks Parker as the model professional he has always looked up to.
“When I started to play for Stellenbosch, I dreamt of beating Khune. I did so in the Coastal Cup [DStv Compact Cup]; it was a great achievement to beat him, the best number one goalkeeper. Growing up, Bernard Parker was my favourite player at Chiefs. He was scoring goals; even now, he can score goals; he was that player I looked up to,” he added.
“I’ve never met him outside football, so my love for him is purely based on him as a footballer.” Du Preez’s stellar performances this season have seen him linked to Chiefs. “I am happy where I am. I am more focused on Stellenbosch. I want to contribute to this team. So, I am not focused on rumours,” he said.
