Posted in News on Aug 25, 2006.
For some it is the chance to correct the wrongs of the previous season and for the select few, the opportunity to emulate the triumphs of what was achieved in the previous term.
As Chiefs begin icing their preparations for Sunday’s season opener against SuperSport United, they do so with the knowledge that they have gone a long way towards rectifying their shyness in front of goal.
At the end of the 2005 – 2006 season Ernst Middendorp’s immediate additions to the team were that of Shaun Bartlett and Bloemfontein Celtic’s Siyabonga Nkosi, one an out and out striker and the other a midfielder who could score goals, demonstrating the fact that the coach was not happy with his team's inability to finish off opponents last season.
Since his arrival at Chiefs Shaun Bartlett, the former Charlton Athletic striker, has been hounded by one question particularly- how many goals will he bag on his return to the PSL? Bartlett’s initial answer was a quick one; “the amount of goals I score will depend on the service I get from the midfield”.
Having played with a strong midfield that consists of Nkosi, the speedy David Mathebula as well as Arthur Zwane’s pin-point crosses, through the preseason campaign, Bartlett now has a clearer picture of how many goals he feels he is capable of getting this coming season.
Bartlett explains further that “from the way we have played through the pre-season and if I continue to receive the same kind of service, I am not guaranteeing anything, but I do feel that I could most definitely score twenty goals in the league this season”.
Shaun is adamant that scoring goals is not the only way he wants to contribute to the teams success as he continues further “if I can score twenty goals I will be delighted.Added to that, I would like to play a part in setting up around the same number of goals”.
As far as injuries are concerned, Bartlett is not feeling any of the discomfort he felt when he picked up a calf injury prior to Chiefs SAA Supa8 clash against Golden Arrows and is in peak condition ahead of the season opener. “David Milner our physiotherapist put me through a fitness test and I came through it without any problems and so far I have been fine this week and without any pain whatsoever.
My thoughts are away from my injury and are on getting off to a flying start against SuperSport on Sunday” added Bartlett.
As Bartlett prepares for the start of the PSL season, he says that the fact that most of the daily newspapers in Johannesburg have tipped him in their season reviews to be the leading goal scorer this coming season has not put him under any added pressure.
The fact that he is with the most popular team in the country is more than enough motivation to help him deal with what ever is being said in the media, and he is confident that the legions of Kaizer Chiefs fans who supported him throughout his orientation process with Chiefs will help him come through and ensure there are no opening day blues for him and his team mates at Loftus on Sunday.
