Parker scoops up awards

JOHANNESBURG – Kaizer Chiefs’ striker, Bernard Parker, who also scored the most goals in the recently held CHAN tournament and plays for Bafana Bafana, scooped up two Absa Premiership awards. He was awarded the first quarter and second quarter awards for Player of the Quarter in the ABSA PSL on Monday February 24.

To add to Kaizer Chiefs’ trophy cabinet, Head coach Stuart Baxter received the coach award for Q2, while Pitso Mosimane from Mamelodi Sundowns was the Q2 coach.

Parker received the award for his consistent performance in the 2013/2014 season for his team and leads the goalscorer chart with ten goals. His form has certainly not gone unnoticed and he walked away with R30 000 for his efforts.

Mamelodi Sundowns’ superb early season form allowed their coach Mosimane to collect the Absa Coach of the Quarter for Q1 prize, with Amakhosi mentor Stuart Baxter collecting the Absa Coach of the Quarter prize, inspiring his team to six wins in seven outings during Q2. Both coaches took home R15 000 each.

“I am there for my team and rounding off their efforts,” said Parker,”I am part of a very well balanced team and with the guidance of our coach (Stuart Baxter) it is easy to perform well.”

“We are managing our players at this stage, because we still have to play in quite a few competitions, so we believe not to play Parker in each and every match. But we are doing this with all the players. At this stage we have players who are working well,” said Baxter. “We want to do well in the league as well as in the CAF tournaments and it takes a lot of our players, but they are willing to work hard.”

“My team is performing well and I am just collecting the award, because they do well in the league,” said Mosimane, “We could only go one way and that is up the log and not down anymore. I am very pleased that they performed so well and this is also working well on my side.”

Convenor of judges Farouk Khan commended the winners on their achievements, and made special note of Parker’s efforts throughout the season. “Parker has proved that he is no flash in the pan by showing the goal-scoring consistency that is required from a top striker, and fully deserves to win the prizes from Absa for the first two quarters of the season,” said the experienced coach.

“It is fitting that Kaizer Chiefs, who have been in such fine form over the past few months, have their coach and striker among the honours, but knowing South African football, I am sure that the race for the coveted 2013/2014 Absa Premiership title is gathering momentum,” added Khan.