Ramatsiyi Moholoa

Ramatsiyi Moholoa

Sharp-shooter Bernard Parker leaves for Malabo this morning on Bafana Bafana duty, inspired by the invitation he received for trials in Sweden.

Bafana Bafana take on the equally crawling Equatorial Guinea on Saturday in their worthless 2010 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.

Thanda Royal Zulu's golden striker is high on the wanted list of Swedish First Division side Malmo, who are impressed by his scoring prowess.

Parker said he was highly encouraged by the two goals he scored for Bafana Bafana in their well deserved 3-0 over Malawi in Germiston last Tuesday.

"It has created more pressure, but you are aware there is always pressure to win for Bafana Bafana," said Parker at training at Pilditch Stadium in Pretoria yesterday.

"I was happy to get an invite for trials in Sweden, it has always been my dream to play soccer overseas. This is a golden opportunity for me to realise it."

Parker is one of the five players in the Malabo-bound team who graduated from the Under-23 side that failed to qualify for the 2008 Beijing Olympics finals.

The other four players are Masilo Modubi, Lance Davids, Itumeleng Khune, Tsepo Masilela and Bryce Moon.

Russia-based defender Matthew Booth said they wanted to wrap up their dismal qualifiers campaign on a high note.

Booth said the problem with South African soccer is that there was no continuity, arguing that the core of the 2000 Sydney Olympics team should have been retained.

Returnee Brian Baloyi said he was glad to be back in the team after being in the wilderness for three years.

Meanwhile Bafana have plummeted to 85th in the Fifa rankings, their worst ranking in 14 years. The rankings were released yesterday.