Stuart Baxter Wants Fans to Show Bernard Parker Respect, Die Hond Proves Doubters Wrong With His Performance

Stuart Baxter Wants Fans to Show Bernard Parker Respect, Die Hond Proves Doubters Wrong With His Performance

Byron Pillay
updated at April 12, 2023 at 7:57 PM
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  • Bernard Parker proved that he can still be a midfield maestro at 35, as he helped Kaizer Chiefs beat Orlando Pirates
  • Stuart Baxter wants fans to show Bernard Parker more respect for his contributions to the Amakhosi
  • Bernard Parker proved many doubters wrong as he put on a man of the match performance in the Soweto Derby

Bernard Parker was instrumental in helping Kaizer Chiefs beat Orlando Pirates in the Soweto Derby, and Stuart Baxter believes that the player deserves more respect for his performances.

At 35-years-old, fans have taken to criticising Die Hond of late, believing that he should hang up his boots. But Parker turned back the years on Saturday, as he showed that he’s still got it.

Stuart Baxter, Bernard Parker, Die Hond, Kaizer Chiefs, Orlando Pirates, South Africa, Sport, Football.
Stuart Baxter believes fans should show Bernard Parker more respect as the player impressed fans with his performance in the Soweto Derby. Image: @thomasmlambo
Source: Twitter

As IOL put it, Die Hond had a bite to match his bark, as he was a maestro in the midfield.

Stuart Baxter thinks that fans, despite their opinion of Parker, should recognise just how much he loves the club, Sport24 reported.

"When we look at Bernard, I think even the most hardened Chiefs fans have to look at this guy and say, 'this guy loves Kaizer Chiefs, and he loves everything about the place, and he puts his body on the line'. For that reason, they should respect him, the Kaizer Chiefs coach said.
"If you cut him, he will bleed gold and black, so he is that sort of person,” Baxter added.

At the beginning of this year, Parker spoke about considering retirement. But if his showing in the Soweto derby is anything to go by, Die Hond will be a regular in the Amakhosi squad for a few seasons more.

Kaizer Chiefs beat Orlando Pirates in Soweto Derby, Amakhosi score late to claim league double over Buccaneers

Kaizer Chiefs have beaten their Sowetan rivals Orlando Pirates 2-1. The Amakhosi won the Soweto Derby, thanks to a stunning long-range effort by Reeve Frosler and a late header, from a corner, by Eric Matoho.

Ina game that Sports Brief monitored, Reeve Frosler gave Chiefs the lead which was pegged back by Kwame Peprah, but Mathoho’s goal decided the tie. The start of the game lived up to the hype as both teams went at it from the get-go.

Within the first five minutes, it was end-to-end stuff as both teams looked to get the perfect start. Chiefs looked the more threatening side and could have gone a goal ahead as early as the 10th minute. The Amakhosi countered a Pirates corner but could not find a final pass.

Authors
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Byron Pillay
Byron Pillay is a sports writer and Head of the Department at Sports Brief (joined in 2022) with over 10 years of experience in community journalism and a degree in journalism from Caxton's Cadet School.
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DStv PremiershipSouth AfricaStuart Baxter