Bernard Parker has expressed his appreciation and great feeling to be amongst the group of players that carry the hopes of the nation ahead of the 2013 Orange Africa Cup of Nations. The tournament is scheduled to kick off at the National Stadium on Saturday, 19 January 2013 with Bafana Bafana taking on fellow Group A opponents, Cape Verde.

Parker who is heading to the Continental showpiece as PSL’s joint leading goal scorer will be playing in his first ever Africa Cup of Nations despite playing in the Confederations Cup and World Cup in 2009 and 2010 respectively.

“It is a great feeling to represent my country and to be part of this group of players,” Parker told kaizerchiefs.com on Wednesday.

“Every footballer in the world aspires to represent his country and for me it is an honour to have been selected to be part of the group to represent the nation in the upcoming tournament. I am really excited having missed out on the last three, Afcon 2008, 2010 and 2012."

Parker who shrugged off injury concerns to make the team said he believed in his teammates despite the team failing to win the past two matches against Norway and Algeria respectively; “I believe in my teammates and I have no doubt that we will turn the tide come Saturday. We are all motivated and looking forward to giving it our all for the country starting with Cape Verde on Saturday."

‘Hond’ as he is affectionately known is aware that their opponents on Saturday will not be pushovers, “Cape Verde has been climbing the rankings and it is a demonstration of how far they have come and they will arrive with lots of confidence.”