Bernard Parker maintains he has a career to celebrate instead of staying stuck to events that happened towards the end of his playing career when he broke his leg against Mamelodi Sundowns.

Parker has now taken over as the head coach of TS Galaxy's DStv Diski Challenge team, with Vuyo Mere as his assistant, following the decision to stop playing.

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The 38-year-old suffered an ugly injury in a challenge involving Bongani Zungu, which ultimately contributed to the end of his playing career as he only got back to the field just once after that incident.  

"I can only celebrate the career that I had and acknowledge the fact that the playing chapter is over and I'm now a coach," says Parker, who broke into the professional ranks as a teenager with Benoni Premier United.

From there, he then moved to Thanda Royal Zulu, Red Star Belgrade in Serbia, FC Twente in Holland, Greek club Panserraikos, before spending 11 years at Kaizer Chiefs, after which the curtains went down at Galaxy.

Along the way, he won 72 caps for Bafana Bafana after also playing for the national U23.

"As I said in my book released a year ago, I spent most of my best years at Kaizer Chiefs, where I won trophies and scored goals," says Parker.

"Now that I stand here as the current all-time top scorer in the PSL era years for Chiefs (62 goals), it can only give me pride.

"I spent most of my beautiful moments at Chiefs, where I spent 11 years.

"Should I complain?

"I should celebrate instead of being bitter.

"I played at the World Cup, went to two AFCONs, played at the FIFA Confederation Cup, won 72 caps, and I'm third on the all-time top scorers list for the national team behind Benni McCarthy and Shaun Bartlett. 

"I can only be grateful that my international career was that good and this is part of what I will use to inspire as a coach.

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"The end was planned because throughout my career I was doing my badges.

"When I broke my leg, the coach [Sead Ramovic] brought me closer because he realised that he needs me in the dressing room, so I travelled home and away with the team throughout my recovery," says Parker.