TS Galaxy veteran Bernard Parker has been handed words of wisdom about what has befallen after a brutal tackle by Bongani Zungu left the continuation of his playing career hanging in doubt.

Parker came out on a stretcher after Zungu carried his weight with open studs leaving the referee with no option but to send him off.

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Back in 2009, another similar incident whose viewing wasn't for the faint hearted, led to the end of Oupa Ngulube's career.

"What has befallen Bernard needs him to accept instead of being in denial so that he can focus on his recovery with his mind at peace," says Ngulube who was a victim of Mpumalanga Black Aces defender Felix Muamba Musasa's tackle.

Ngulube had been at Carara Kicks at the time and went on to be paid a paltry R58 000 by the PSL DRC for his case of unfair dismissal after Carara then dumped him while still under contract.

"I say Bernard should accept because there is no reverse to this.

"The more you ask yourself questions like 'why me?' the more it messes up with your mental state.

"With Bernard, I feel he should consider himself lucky that this injury happened so late in his career having already achieved so much in his career.

"With me, I was still trying to go up the ladder when it happened, so it hurt even more because I had not achieved anything. 

"What will make easy for Bernard to accept this injury is that his career was now heading towards the finishing line.

"Bernard played for Chiefs for many years, was in Europe, and played at the World Cup so there was nothing bigger to achieve for him now.

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"My injury led to the end of my career and what worsened it was the club that I was playing for didn't look out for me properly.

"The medical attention that you get informs your recovery process and how well you will come out in the end.

"Guys like Magents (Happy Jele), Dillon Sheppard, Benson Mhlongo, and Joel Luphahla were lucky that their clubs looked out for them," says Ngulube.

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