Former Bafana Bafana defender Bongani Khumalo has revealed his inspirational message to Bernard Parker after the TS Galaxy player admitted that the injury he suffered following Bongani Zungu’s horror tackle might be the end of his career.
Parker, 37, suffered what looked like a leg break in TS Galaxy’s penalty shootout win over Mamelodi Sundowns after being fouled by Zungu in the 58th minute.
Replays clearly showed a very bad impact, but to the surprise of many Zungu even debated the red card.
Parker, meanwhile, even gave a thumbs up as he was stretchered off the pitch and was later brought to hospital.
But before he left Mbombela Stadium, SuperSport TV presenter Phumlani Msibi and Mokoena spoke to him, while he was being attended to by doctors, and recalls that Die Hond admitted this injury might have serious repercussions for his career.
“It may mean the end of my career,” they recalled Parker saying.
But Khumalo said he gave Parker hope to overcome this unfortunate incident.
“I told him that I’ve been through something similar and I told that this is not the end.
“I told him that he’s got a book, he’s got a book that he’s released – I said ‘my brother this is another chapter in your book. This is how you keep our generation alive. You kept us believing, you stayed on for so long, this is not the end.
“Focus on recovery – yes, there will be an operation, I’m pretty sure of it. From there focus on recovery and your strength, after that you go back to what you love doing, which is playing football.”