RECAP: Galaxy dent Sundowns’ title hopes

The Rockets returned to winning ways after their 13-match winless run in the league after they secured a 3-2 victory over Sundowns.

Goals from Victor Letsoalo, Sedwyn George and Mpho Mvelase saw the Rockets walk away with all three points at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit.

READ: Cardoso Reflects On Defeat In Final Betway Premiership Tie

The win sees Galaxy remain in 12th place on the log with 31 points from 29 games, with one match remaining in the season.

“As I said in the pre-match interview because of the psychological factor we have over them,” Parker told SuperSport TV after the game.

“At the same time, they were more under pressure by them having to score a lot of goals and having to win the match and it was also good for them to win the match going to play the Champions League final – wish them all the best for the Champions League final.

“But as we say in football we don’t have answers but solutions and we came up with a solution in terms of us being disciplined, taking the responsibility and at the same time having the unity especially in our defending and just hit them on the counter-attack because we have been practising on how they keep a high-line and for us just to make sure we attack the space behind with the young man Mahlambi.

“He has been so far our dangerous player for the last couple of games so why not get the ball early to him, create one-v-one in the two previous games he got us a penalty and again today so the game-plan was spot-on in terms of us playing to our strengths.”

The post Parker: We Had A Psychological Advantage Over Sundowns appeared first on SportsClub.

Read: Shalulile bags brace as Sundowns move one step closer to title

Parker was sidelined with a broken leg following a challenge from Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Bongani Zungu during their Carling Knockout Cup encounter in October last year.

Read: Mokwena: Ramovic showed Zungu’s tackle made on Parker

However, Parker made his return to the pitch in stoppage time when he came on to replace fellow striker Samir Nurkovic in their 3-0 defeat to Sundowns on Monday.

Read: Ramovic responds to Mokwena comments about revenge

Ramovic was delighted to see Parker back on the pitch, despite coming on and missing a penalty in the dying minutes of the game.

“Absolutely, I think this should now be the priority for us. We saw what a great inspiration Parker is, unbelievable, fantastic attitude to come back after this horrible injury, to be back at the game it’s just an inspiration for every player, for every person who has this kind of injury,” Ramovic told SuperSport TV after the game.

“That everything is possible. I think not many believed that Parker can be back on the field, it’s just him, me and my staff and the team but he was unbelievable, he worked so hard and we’re absolutely happy that he is back and enjoy football player Bernard Parker.”

Photo by Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix

The post Ramovic reacts to Parkers return appeared first on SportsClub.

The 36-year-old played 26 times for the Soweto giants over the last season but he still didn’t survive the culling at Naturena.

The club announced 8 departures on Thursday and while many thought that Parker may have been kept on the club revealed he would also depart when his contract comes to an end.

The club made the announcement with a statement on their social media pages.

“Kaizer Chiefs will sadly not renew Bernard Parker’s contract when it expires at the end of June 2022. Parker, a bona fide Kaizer Chiefs legend, will leave the Club he has served with distinction for 11 years,” read the statement.

Kaizer Chiefs will sadly not renew Bernard Parker’s contract when it expires at the end of June 2022. Parker, a bona fide Kaizer Chiefs legend, will leave the Club he has served with distinction for 11 years…#ThankYouParker #Amakhosi4Life pic.twitter.com/GBtp1dc6e2

— Kaizer Chiefs (@KaizerChiefs) June 3, 2022

“His exceptional talent and leadership helped Amakhosi to win four major trophies, inclu

The post Kaizer Chiefs announce departure of ‘legend’ Parker appeared first on SportsClub.

A recent 1-0 loss against Golden Arrows and a draw with TS Galaxy mean Amakhosi failed to pile pressure on log-leaders Downs.

Chiefs now sit 18 points behind Sundowns with three games in hand, two of which are yet to be resolved by the Premier Soccer League (PSL) and Safa.

Speaking to media ahead of the match against SuperSport United at FNB Stadium, where fans will return for the first time in two years, the forward admitted his side need to finish the season strongly.

“It was very painful. We all felt the pain after we dropped the points. We went to those matches with confidence, but we were surprised,” Parker said.

“It was not a good one. But it is important for us now to get stronger and motivated so we can finish the season on a high note.

“I feel for the players who have nothing in their careers because when you come here, you have the opportunity to get something. But we will keep on pushing until we get something one day.

“We don’t want to disappoint the supporters and we want to welcome back with a strong performance to top it up with a win,” Parker said.

“We are all happy to have them back, guys who have not played in front of the club supporters now will have that chance and it will keep their feet itchy.

“So, it is about us welcoming them with a strong performance and seeing how it goes.”

The post Parker: We don’t want to disappoint the supporters appeared first on SportsClub.

The 35-year-old missed Amakhosi’s 1-0 victory over Baroka FC in the DStv Premiership this past weekend due to injury, but is now available for selection when Stuart Baxter’s men take on the Buccaneers on Saturday.

Amakhosi will go into the clash looking for maximum points as they currently sit third in the league standings with 32 points from 18 games, while Pirates are a place and a point below them having played two more games.

“Yes, I am happy to be back and always ready to play in these types of games. We live for these games – you want to be involved in this game because it is one of the biggest derbies on the continent. It is always an honour to play in this match,” Parker told his club’s official website.

The veteran striker will be appearing in his 21st Soweto derby against Pirates as he attempts to chase Siphiwe Tshabalala’s record 31 derby appearances.

“I am very proud to reach such a milestone. It is always with joy and a host of other good emotions that I look ahead to this game. The buildup, the hype, the talk, the history … it’s an exciting feeling,” he added.

“One of the best derbies I featured in was captaining the team in the 100th league derby last season, which we won. While I would describe these games as always being a nerve-wracking encounter, I never want to lose against Pirates.

“With Pirates style of play and movement, they can always be a hiccup. They have good flair. How to contain that is a challenge. With my experience, I know how to contain and manage that.”

With a Caf Champions League place on the line, Parker is well aware of the magnitude of the derby as both teams are gunning to secure their place at next season’s continental competition.

“It’s very, very crucial for us to win. I had a conversation with Daniel Cardoso, we believe winning will set the tone and be a massive confidence booster for us to gain momentum. Winning will lift everything in us for us to get into the Caf Champions League.

“I feel good and refreshed and can’t wait to be on the field again, given the chance,” concluded Parker.

The post Parker: With my experience I know how to contain and manage Pirates appeared first on SportsClub.

The Glamour Boys leapfrogged their arch-rivals this past weekend as a narrow 1-0 win over Baroka moved them up to second, while the Sea Robbers were away on continental duty.

With both sides neck and neck on the league table, and both eyeing that second Caf Champions League spot behind Sundowns, the weekend’s clash could be a defining one of the season.

Speaking after the win over Baroka, Baxter admitted it is nice to have some fresh legs in his squad with the return of a number of players.

“Pirates is a completely different game. Will we play with four at the back or will we play with three centre backs? That remains to be seen,” he said following Chiefs’ victory over Baroka on Saturday.

“We do have some fresh legs. I’m expecting Bernard [Parker] to be back, Samir [Nurkovic] has got a good hour under his belt, Leo [Castro] has got time under his belt, we got Lebo [Manyama] back on the field and a few more minutes for him.

“We’ve got almost a full squad to look at now and we’ll just suck on this caramel [after the win over Baroka] and then it is back to work.”

The post We’ve got almost a full squad to look at – Baxter ahead of Soweto derby appeared first on SportsClub.

Khune is the player serving one club the longest, having been at Kaizer Chiefs for 17 years and four months, during which he racked up 327 appearances in all competitions while keeping 149 clean sheets and conceding 253.

The second-longest serving player on the list, is Orlando Pirates captain Happy Jele. He has served the Buccaneers for 15 years to date, making 365 appearances while netting 16 goals and assisting a further seven.

The likes of SuperSport duo Ronwen Williams and Boalefa Pule, Sundowns trio Themba Zwane, Denis Onyango and Hlompho Kekana, Chiefs’ Bernard Parker and Nkosingiphile Gumede of Golden Arrows have spent 10 years at their respective clubs.

Last on the list is Amakhosi veteran defender Eric Mathoho, who has spent nine years and four months at the Soweto giants since joining from Bloemfontein Celtic back in July 2012.

Here’s the top-10 list:

1) Itumeleng Khune (Kaizer Chiefs) – 17 years 5 months
2) Happy Jele (Orlando Pirates) – 15 years 3 months
3) Ronwen Williams (SuperSport United) – 10 years 10 months
4) Themba Zwane (Mamelodi Sundowns) – 10 years 10 months
5) Bernard Parker (Kaizer Chiefs) – 10 years 5 months
6) Nkosingiphile Gumede (Golden Arrows) – 10 years 5 months
7) Denis Onyango (Mamelodi Sundowns) – 10 years 5 months
8) Hlompho Kekana (Mamelodi Sundowns) – 10 years 3 months
9) Boalefa Pule (SuperSport United) – 10 years 3 months
10) Eric Mathoho (Kaizer Chiefs) – 09 years 4 months

The post LIST: Longest-serving players still playing in PSL appeared first on SportsClub.

A 63rd-minute goal from veteran striker Bernard Parker was enough to have Amakhosi bag all three points away from home.

The win takes Chiefs up to sixth place on the league table on 18 points, while the Team of Choice remain in 11th position with 11 points after 11 matches played thus far.

WATCH: Maritzburg United 0-1 Kaizer Chiefs

The post Highlights: Chiefs edge Maritzburg at Harry Gwala Stadium appeared first on SportsClub.

Stuart Baxter kept the same side that beat Orlando Pirates before the international break as Sbusiso Mabiliso came in to replace the injured S’fiso Hlanti, while Ramahlwe Mphahlele start his first game of this season Leonardo Castro being named on the bench after recovering from a long-term injury.

Amakhosi showed their intent early on and produced the first chance of the game after two minutes but Nkosingiphile Ngcobo’s header hit the ground before sailing over the crossbar.

The Team of Choice had a chance of their own seven minutes later but Bongokuhle Hlongwane directed his header across the face of goal with none of his teammates able to make any connection with his effort.

Hlongwane came close to opening the scoring in the 22nd minute but the United attacker failed to beat Amakhosi keeper Daniel Akpeyi who did well to make the save.

Akpeyi was called into action again in the 34th minute when he produced a good save to deny Phiwayinkosi Zuma’s effort, which lacked the power to trouble the Amakhosi keeper.

Neither side could be separated after the first 45 minute of play as the game went into the half time break locked at 0-0.

The second half got off to a rocky start with both teams making cagey tackles in the opening few minutes of the second stanza.

The visitors eventually took the lead in the 63rd minute when Bernard Parker beat the offside trap before finding the back of the with a superb head to make it 1-0.

Amakhosi were forced to make a substitution in the 75th minute when Nange was stretched off the field after picking up an injury and he was subsequently replaced by Kgaogelo Sekgota before they were forced to make another substitution after Anthony Agay replaced the injured Alexander.

The Team of Choice pressed forward in the closing stages of the game as they went in search of an equalising goal but Amakhosi managed to hold on to walk away from all three points.

The post Parker fires Chiefs past Maritzburg appeared first on SportsClub.

South Africa will travel to the Bahir Dar Stadium when they face Ethiopia on Saturday before welcoming the same opponents to the FNB Stadium for the return leg on Tuesday.

However, Parker, who has scored 23 goals from 72 caps for Bafana, believes the upcoming fixtures will help South Africa reach their goal of reaching the next stage of qualifying.

“They have speedy players, we have the skill to be able to counter them,” Parker told his club’s official website.

“We are dangerous from set-piece situations and when we get them, we need to make them count for us.

“We need to target to get six points from these games. I think if we can come out with four points, it will be good because then all the pressure is on Zimbabwe and Ghana going into the last two games.”

The post Parker: Bafana needs to target to get six points from these games appeared first on SportsClub.