Former Kaizer Chiefs striker Bernard Parker has called time on his illustrious playing career and accepted the offer to become the head coach of TS Galaxy’s DStv Diski Challenge (DDC) team.

Parker was approached by Galaxy chairman Tim Sukazi and Vuyo Mere at the end of last season to fill the DDC head coach position after Ashley Makhanya was deployed by the club. This acceptance marks Parker’s official transition from player to coach.

“Thank you for the opportunity, Mr. Chairman Tim Sukazi, the TS Galaxy family, and the senior coaching staff for trusting me to take charge as head coach at DDC,” Parker said on Instagram. “I promise to make the most of it.”

Parker joined Galaxy ahead of the 2022/23 season after leaving Chiefs, where he achieved legendary status as the club’s all-time leading scorer in the PSL era. At Galaxy, the 38-year-old featured in 36 matches across all competitions and scored three goals.

Parker’s career began at Benoni Premier United before taking him to FC Twente in the Netherlands, where he won the Eredivisie title in the 2009/10 season under Manchester United assistant coach Steve McClaren. He also had a stint in Greece with Panserraikos before returning to Chiefs.

During his time back at the Soweto giants (2011-2022), he secured two league titles, an MTN8 trophy, and a Nedbank Cup. Notably, he scored the winning goal in the 2012/13 Nedbank Cup final against SuperSport United with a long-range strike that surprised goalkeeper Ronwen Williams.

Parker holds several individual accolades at Chiefs. He is the last player to win the PSL Golden Boot (2013/14 season) and the last to score four goals in a single game (against AmaZulu in the 2012/13 season opener).

On the international stage, Parker earned 73 caps and scored 23 goals for Bafana Bafana. He represented South Africa in the 2008, 2013, and 2015 Africa Cup of Nations tournaments, as well as the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup, the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

He will be forever remembered for scoring a famous goal against Spain at FNB Stadium in November 2013, where he chipped the ball past legendary goalkeeper Iker Casillas to secure a 1-0 victory for Bafana Bafana.