Chiefs get Parker back

Bernard Parker, the league's leading goalscorer, will be back in action this week - earlier than expected.

The Kaizer Chiefs striker, with seven league goals to his credit, missed Tuesday night's comprehensive 3-0 win over Golden Arrows after injuring an ankle in training last week.

But Chiefs coach Stuart Baxter received good news yesterday when he was told of Parker's quick recovery.

Parker will be part of the Chiefs squad when they return to Peter Mokaba stadium in Polokwane on Saturday for an Absa Premiership match against Supersport United, who were held to a 2-2 draw by Chippa United on Tuesday. It also means Parker will be fit for Wednesday's friendly against Zambia in the Nelson Mandela Challenge at Soccer City.

"We are happy to have him back in the team," said Baxter, whose team heads the Premier League with 21 points from six wins and three draws.

"We expect a tough game against Supersport but we want to remain unbeaten for as long as possible to win the league."

Like Chiefs, Supersport are also unbeaten. The two are the only unbeaten teams in the league but United have only one win - and eight draws.

"They are a difficult side," Baxter said of Supersport.

"But we need a win on Saturday to consolidate our top spot. It will be a great game and I'm confident we will emerge victorious.

"It's an interesting development. We plan to remain [on top of the log] as long as possible."

Chiefs won R1.5-million from the Premier Soccer League's new programme to reward the league's top teams every quarter during the season.

Despite the Chiefs' thrashing of Arrows, Baxter felt his side needed to improve.

"I'm not 100% satisfied with our performance; the result is good but not the performance. But that's something we will discuss with the players."

Bafana Bafana plummeted to their third-lowest ranking in two decades after sliding eight places in the latest world rankings, which were announced yesterday.

South Africa is now 84th in the world, 21st in Africa .

In the four matches since Gordon Igesund took over, Bafana have had two wins, against Mozambique and Kenya, and two defeats, to Brazil and Poland.

Emerging victorious against Zambia would boost the team' s ranking. - Chumani Bambani