Former Kaizer Chiefs and TS Galaxy player Bernard Parker has revealed shocking details on the incident involving Bongani Zungu that left the now-retired Parker with a nasty leg fracture.
The incident occurred on October 18, 2023, during a match between Mamelodi Sundowns and TS Galaxy. Parker’s career was jeopardised following a nasty tackle by Zungu, which led to Parker being hospitalised and sidelined for close to six months with a leg fracture.
In the aftermath, Parker revealed that Zungu had reached out to him via Instagram to apologise for the tackle.
However, Parker later noticed that Zungu had unfollowed him on the social media platform.
“I have never had a personal relationship with Bongani Zungo throughout both of our careers. We played once or twice for Bafana Bafana, but it was just a normal professional relationship,” Parker said on Marawa Sports Worldwide.
“And when this incident happened, he did apologise in an Instagram direct message. I responded to say you are forgiven and then he didn’t reply, then after that, there was nothing.
“Later on, I found that he unfollowed me on Instagram and then later on, there was no follow-up from him. And I never received any call from the Sundowns coach as well.
“And I did receive a card and flowers from the Sundowns management. I found it strange and I was still in the hospital at that time.
“I found it strange and when I got out of the hospital, I was at home, busy doing my physio and stuff, and Mr. Peterson, who used to visit me a lot, who is my life coach.
“I said to Mr. Peterson, I think we should reach out to him (Zungu) so that we can go and shake hands if he can touch me so that to give me the healing blessing.
“And we tried to reach out, but it wasn’t successful. So, I just said to myself, why should I run?
“Why should I make an effort and run behind somebody who doesn’t want to apologise or who doesn’t want to make peace?
“A lot of things went through my mind and I’m thinking and I’m thinking and I never had, I never sat with him, like for instance, socially. I never sat with him, also at camp with Bafana Bafana, never sat and never chatted with him.
“It was always just being professional. So, I was trying to recall and trying to think.”
‘The Hond’ has also revealed that he has made peace about the incident and that has helped him to recover quicker than expected.
“I made peace about it and if I didn’t make peace about it I don’t think I would have recovered so quickly.
“And I think with the peace I had there was just a joy within my recovery, not bitterness or hate or resentment but it was just pure joy within my recovery journey, and thank God I made a successful recovery.”
TS Galaxy has offered the 38-year-old a coaching role. He will be taking on the responsibility of leading the Rockets’ DDC team in the upcoming season.
