Bernard 'Die Hond' Parker will remain a legend in this game regardless of what then happens with his playing career from now onwards following the savage tackle by Bongani Zungu on Wednesday night.
Parker is due to undergo medical procedures after being taken out on a stretcher during the exciting Carling Knockout Cup last 16 tie played at Mbombela and while he spends time focusing on the injury, the career that he has had to date will always be worth celebrating.
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When the injury happened last night, the 37-year was cruising in season number 20 – an incredible milestone through an amazing journey which started out at the School of Excellence and the juniors' set-up at Mamelodi Sundowns.
Worth noting is that Parker spent 11 years rising to become AmaKhosi's all-time top scorer in the PSL era years.
Though he once endured a spell stretching 61 games without scoring at Chiefs, Parker ultimately went out with 62 goals making him the top scorer since domestic football was restructured and rebranded into the PSL in August 1996.
While his time and contribution at Chiefs earned him legendary status, Parker has stood the test of time in professional footballer.
After his time in the Sundowns development, the lad from Reiger Park went on to Benoni Premier United in the 2004/05 season as a teenager playing 16 games in the Mvela Golden League season as The Rabbits reached the Platinum Play-Offs final which they lost to Tembisa Classic.
Then, the following season Parker scored 10 goals in 31 appearances as Benoni won promotion to the top league.
Since then, Parker has grown from a boy into a respected footballer in the domestic ranks moving from Benoni to Thanda Royal Zulu, Red Star Belgrade in Serbia, FC Twente in Holland, Greek club Panserraikos before landing at Chiefs.
With South African football pregnant with cases of inconsistency and careers that only last 'as long as the taste of chewing gum', Parker's achievement deserves due recognition.
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Parker has also earned 72 Bafana Bafana caps along the way becoming one of only a handful players to surpass the 70 caps mark and has won caps for the national Under-23 squad under Steve Komphela.
For now, Parker is in his second season at TS Galaxy.
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