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Parker set to rein in Bafana scorers

SCORCHER: Bernard Parker of South Africa scores from a free-kick during the 2014 Fifa World Cup qualifier against Botswana at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday Photo: Gallo Images
SCORCHER: Bernard Parker of South Africa scores from a free-kick during the 2014 Fifa World Cup qualifier against Botswana at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday Photo: Gallo Images

BERNARD Parker's brace against Botswana on Saturday took his tally to 17 for Bafana Bafana, putting him in outright fifth place in the all-time scorers list for the national side.

The Kaizer Chiefs star netted twice in the final six minutes, first a wonderful free-kick from 25m, and then a penalty.

Having netted in each of Bafana's past four World Cup qualifiers, and scored five goals in all, Parker is now joint top scorer in the African section along with four other players though all the others will get the opportunity to add to their tally in the final round of qualifiers.

Parker was not selected by former coach Pitso Mosimane for the qualifiers against Ethiopia and Botswana in June last year. Bafana drew both matches.

It now leaves the 27-year-old with the possibility of chasing down the country's leading marksman, Benni McCarthy, who scored 31 goals in 80 international matches, though to do that he would need to rediscover the prolific form in front of goal that he displayed in the early part of his international career.

Parker took eight internationals to get his first Bafana goal, netting a brace in a 3-0 friendly win over Malawi in 2008, but then scored seven in his next nine internationals, including victories over Ghana and Cameroon, and the first in a 2-1 success against Norway.

Parker has not been helped at times by being played wide on the left rather than as a central striker, not that you would ever hear him complain about that.

He will have the chance to equal or overtake Phil Masinga in fourth spot on the all-time list when Bafana tackle Zimbabwe at Orlando Stadium tonight, the lanky former national team striker having netted 18 goals for his country.

Benni McCarthy - 31 goals in 80 internationals; Shaun Bartlett - 29 in 74 internationals; Katlego Mphela - 23 in 52 internationals; Masinga - 18 in 58 internationals; Parker - 17 in 60 internationals

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