Bartlett has his Arrows sharpened

At some point after 5pm today, Shaun Bartlett is likely to get a call from Kaizer Chiefs' league-winning coach Stuart Baxter.

A phone call from one league champion to another, if all goes according to plan for Bartlett and his Golden Arrows side at Chatsworth Stadium of course.

They speak regularly and they have recently had a cup of coffee in Polokwane, when Chiefs were there to host AmaZulu and Arrows were visiting Baroka FC. Baxter has constantly given Bartlett advice this season and it has helped the up-and-coming coach a lot, it seems.

In his first full season as head coach, Bartlett has taken National First Division (NFD) side Arrows to within a point of securing promotion after a season in the second tier.

With one foot in the Premier Soccer League (PSL), Bartlett faces Cape Town All Stars today ready to wrap up the title and beat a legend in Jomo Sono, the Jomo Cosmos coach, to automatic promotion.

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"I get support from Baxter," he says. "He gives me advice and we were constantly talking when I was getting my coaching badges in England. We had a nice cup of coffee and we discussed strategies and how to deal with certain things.

"When we beat Cosmos 3-1 [in March], Stuart told me that does not mean I am better than Jomo Sono. He reminded me it's a learning curve," he says. "I was captain of Bafana Bafana when Baxter was coach, so we've kept in contact."

Arrows made a brave decision to keep inexperienced Bartlett as coach after getting relegated last season. It is something many clubs who always want to go for the usual suspects can learn.

Grateful for the opportunity, the 42-year-old was determined to prove himself, but also knew he wouldn't be able to stay more than one season in the NFD. The conditions - some pitches and dressing rooms - are very poor, he says, so he put everything into making sure Arrows make a quick return.

The job is not quite done yet, but he is not about to let it slip away, not when Arrows are so close.

"The conditions in the NFD are not the best," said Bartlett, who stepped in as coach when Muhsin Ertugral left midway through last season.

"The dressing rooms are not the best. You play at old stadiums and the pitch is not always good. Sometimes you look at these things and ask yourself: 'didn't we have a World Cup?' Unfortunately, the lower divisions didn't get improved.

"We also travel long distances by bus and the hotels are not always the best. But it becomes easier to motivate players when you go through all these things," said Bartlett.

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He added: "What I don't understand is how the Diski Challenge can be televised, but the NFD isn't. Our games only get televised towards the end of the season. Another thing is the difference in prize money. In the PSL you get R10-million when you win the league, but in the NFD you get R300000. If you win the (ABC) Motsepe League, you get R1-million. It does not add up."

Like Chiefs, Arrows got off to a fantastic start, going the first 12 matches unbeaten and keeping eight clean sheets in a row along the way. Arrows have conceded the least number of goals, 23, and only Cosmos have scored more goals.

"My passion has always been working with kids. I had an academy in Johannesburg and I started an amateur team. But when Muhsin came calling me to be his assistant, I did not think twice.

"Because of the under-23 rule in the NFD, I had a chance to develop players. It's my first head coach job and I do not think many people believed that I could do it. But I had to believe in my ability.

"The reason why we find ourselves here is consistency. They usually say it's about how you finish, but the start sets you up for the finish. We were never below third place and we kept the fighting spirit."

Bartlett may be excited about coaching in the Premier League, but he has bigger dreams, to work in England and to coach Bafana.

"People don't remember what you did as a player once you become a coach. You've got to earn your stripes. Starting from the bottom is difficult, but it makes you strong and teaches you a lot. I want to end up in Europe. I finished my Uefa A licence last year. I want to get my pro licence so that I coach in England," the former Charlton Athletic striker said.

He's certainly made a perfect start as coach.

sub_head_start Other teams that made the top flight sub_head_end

Teams  who were relegated from the PSL and bounced back the following season:

African Wanderers - relegated in 1997-98, promoted in 1998-99

AmaZulu - 1999-2000, 2000-01

African Wanderers - 2000-01, 2001-02

AmaZulu - 2001-02, 2002-03

Umtata Bush Bucks - 2002-03, 2003-04

Wits University - 2004-05, 2005-06

Maritzburg United - 2006-07, 2007-08

Jomo Cosmos - 2007-08, 2008-09

Jomo Cosmos - 2009-10, 2010-11

Chippa United - 2012-13, 2013-14

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