Bernard Parker cries foul over being mistreated by Amakhosi supporters - 'It is not easy to accept that the fans insulted me when I was trying my best to help Kaizer Chiefs'

Kaizer Chiefs legend Bernard Parker has shared his disappointment regarding the treatment he received from the club's supporters during his tenure with the Glamour Boys.

The 38-year-old South African football legend was part of the Motaung-owned club for almost twelve years, having joined the team in 2011 and departing in 2022.

However, despite his impressive accomplishments with the current Nasreddine Nabi-led side, Parker has maintained that he faced unfair criticism from Chiefs fans at times.

"I won the Nedbank Cup and MTN 8 with Chiefs but when I left it wasn't fun because the fans I loved turned against me. This was strange to me because I thought I was a favorite and I didn't know that the fans saw that I was being pushed back because I can play in tricky places," Parker said, per Isolezwe. 

"I am also grateful to the psychiatrist who I went to and he warned me that I am a few goals short of holding the record for the top goalscorer in Chiefs since the PSL started.

"This made me jealous but it helped me to reach this record.  There are many records that I achieved while at Chiefs such as winning the Golden Boot in 2014, that's why I say it still hurts when I think about the way I left it," he added. 

"I am proud of my records in Chiefs and I will always love the team but it is not easy to convey that the fans I did not look down on were the ones who insulted me when I was trying everything I could to help Chiefs."

Parker has also urged the Glamour Boys supporters to be patient with the club's coach Nasreddine Nabi as he is still trying to put things together. 

"Football has its own way of doing things, so I don't see the need to rush those connected with the Chiefs because it's still early," said the former Twente FC player. 

"It is important that Nabi is given enough opportunity to put his ideas into the team.  He is new to the league and the country, so the players are still trying to get used to him.

"Since he is still putting it together, it is easy to make it look like the damage is big.  It's good because here comes the window for the exchange of players, maybe someone has seen that it should be strengthened. He should be given a chance."

Parker secured numerous trophies with Chiefs, including two PSL championships. He also achieved personal honours like the PSL Golden Boot during the 2013/14 season.

Die Hond, as the former Thanda Royal Zulu forward is nicknamed,  has taken on the role of head coach for Galaxy's Diski Challenge team after retiring from playing in July of this year.

Given his successful management of Galaxy's reserve team in their league, Parker appears to have a promising future in the coaching realm, and he aspires to coach prominent teams in the PSL someday.

Chiefs are set to face Parker's former team, Galaxy, in their upcoming PSL match scheduled for Monday, December 16 at the Mbombela Stadium.