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Cape Town - Kaizer Chiefs striker Bernard Parker believes that the reason why strikers in the Absa Premiership are scoring less each season is because of attacking midfielders.
According to KickOff website, Parker says that the game has changed over the years with midfielders being the "most influential footballers at the moment".
“Journalists, TV presenters and everyone is saying strikers don’t score, but you can see in Europe that even the top strikers in the world also miss opportunities,” the 32-year-old said.
“Why do they miss? Because it’s normal. What happens behind them, though? Players are always creating opportunities, so they always get fed – out of five, two or three go in.
“It’s been proven over the years that we do have strikers (in the PSL), but there’s no consistency. You know Parker is a goal scorer, but the consistency in terms of feeding him (has been lacking). If you see that you have a goal scorer, keep feeding him.”
The PSL joint-Top Goalscorer of the Season for 2017/18 was awarded to Rodney Ramagalela of Polokwane City and Percy Tau of Mamelodi Sundowns, who both scored 11 goals.
In the National First Division the joint-Top Goalscorers went on to score 15 goals - Mwape Musonda (Black Leopards) and Peter Shalulile (Highlands Park).
During the 2013/14 campaign, Parker managed to score 10-goals, the lowest amount a player has ever been awarded the top goalscorer award.
“Not to take anything away from the creativity behind the strikers but that’s where the game is going – wingers and attacking midfielders get Player of the Season and Ballon d’Or awards,” he continued.
“They are the most influential footballers at the moment. They are the ones who make things happen and feed strikers, and they are the ones who decide games.
“I can give you examples in the modern game, wingers like Neymar, Eden Hazard, Lionel Messi, Mohamed Salah now, and there’s a lot more I can mention. They make things happen, create opportunities and feed strikers. "
