Bernard Parker backtracks on split, infidelity claims amid club exit

Days after dropping a bombshell about his personal life, including a confession alluding to cheating on his new baby mama, Bernard Parker has backtracked, calling for “privacy” and “discretion”

This comes as the former Bafana Bafana and Kaizer Chiefs player stepped down as head coach of TS Galaxy.

BERNARD PARKER BACKTRACKS ON BOMBSHELL CLAIMS

On Monday, 12 October, Bernard Parker dropped a bombshell statement on his official social media platforms about his personal life.

This included that he has split from his baby mama, Kacha Stepanovic, and was struggling with “personal addictions”. He also used the opportunity to apologise to the red-haired woman, alluding to infidelity in their three-year relationship. The news came as a surprise to the public, given that his last known relationship was his marriage to his wife, Wendy Parker.

A few days later, Bernard Parker did a 180 on his initial statement, effectively denying what he initially wrote.

He shared: “I am aware of statements circulating publicly concerning my personal circumstances and relationships. For clarity, any communication attributed to me should be treated as official only if it has been confirmed by me or issued through my authorised representative.

Bernard called for the public to “exercise discretion and refrain from circulating unverified information or speculation about my private life”.

He added that he was “attending to the matter privately and responsibly, with due consideration for the well-being and dignity of everyone concerned, particularly the children”

Bernard also deleted his reposts of several Instagram Reels, which spoke of lust, betrayal and a “miserable marriage”.

STEPPING DOWN AS TS GALAXY COACH

Meanwhile, Bernard Parker has been replaced by Esau Mtsweni, who steps in as TS Galaxy’s interim coach.

The surprise move was announced by club chairman Tim Suzaki, who claimed the move was football-related and not a result of Bernard’s personal life.

He told SABC Sport: “As a club, we’re also quite surprised when we saw the long statement coming from his social media account…Clubs and employers, in general, don’t get too involved in people’s personal affairs.

“You see and hear of them as and when they happen, you know.”

Suzaki alluded to Bernard Parker’s personal life “challenges”, adding: “He’s a man, he should find a way to resolve it. So that he could come back to football if he’s not within football”.