TS Galaxy DStv Diski Challenge coach Bernard Parker has revealed a former Kaizer Chiefs mentor who played a significant role in helping him realise his potential to become a “good coach”.
The former Bafana Bafana striker hung up his boots at the end of the previous season, marking the end of an illustrious journey that commenced in 2004 at Benoni Premier United.
Parker, who’s now 38 years old, is honing his skills at the Rockets reserve team where he’s assisted by his former teammate Vuyo Mere who also retired from professional football in June.
The former FC Twente man stated that Stuart Baxter made him aware of his coaching potential during the Scottish coach’s second stint at Kaizer Chiefs in 2021.
He says Baxter highlighted his capacity to grasp tactics from various coaches, a skill demonstrated by his adaptability to the numerous coaching changes at Chiefs, particularly as the club has faced challenges over the past decade.
PARKER ON WHICH EX-CHIEFS COACH TOLD HIM HE WOULD MAKE A GOOD COACH
“He [Stuart Baxter] is the first one who planted the idea in my mind that I would become a good coach because tactically I respond very well, tactically I always know what to do,” Parker told FARPost.
“He would always use me as an example, and he said to me, ‘You know Bernard, you should think about becoming a coach’.
“So, that seed was planted by coach Stuart Baxter. That’s where it started for me.
“I asked him [why], he said, ‘I know you’ve been at Chiefs for a long time, and we won trophies and went through the drought, but you managed to play under all coaches’.
“He said, ‘Imagine how many coaches they changed, but you played under all of them; that just shows that you will become a good coach because you understand the game. You are one of the guys that understand the game better’.”
Parker says the impact he made on players like Donay Jansen [on loan at SuperSport from Chiefs] and Shandre Campbell [Club Brugge] influenced his decision to take the coaching route.
PARKER ON THE IMPACT HE HAD ON JANSEN AND CAMPBELL
“I then started helping in the communities, taking my team to the tournaments,” he added.
“And then I started helping young players as well in terms of becoming professional.
“The likes of Donay Jansen, who was 14 at the time, and Shandre Campbell, who was also 14. I started then to realise I can become a good coach.
“Seeing how much I’ve influenced these boys and what they’ve become, it really kicked in that this is the route and the direction I’m going to take.”
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