Globetrotter Bartletts three n easy
12:18pm Tuesday 2nd January 2001
THERE cannot be too many players in the Premiership who have played professional football on three different continents.
There are obviously players in Englands top division who have plied their trade in two, but picking out a player as worldly as Charltons new loan signing Shaun Bartlett is decidedly tricky. The 28-year-old FC Zurich player, who scored two brilliant goals in a fairytale home debut against Manchester United, has played in his native South Africa, the United States and most recently, Europe.
He started his career in his homeland with Cape Town Spurs, where he helped his local club to a league and cup double, before a transfer to US Soccer outfit Colorado Rapids.
He notched up nine goals - and nine assists during his 36 games for the Rapids before being traded to the New York/New Jersey Metrostars where he bagged two in 13 outings. "Football in the States is completely different to anywhere else in the world," revealed Shaun, who scored for his country in a 2-1 win against Liberia in the African Nations Cup two weeks ago.
"Whenever a match finishes as a draw, there is a kind of penalty shoot-out between player and goalkeeper.
"The player stands near the halfway line with the ball, and gets five seconds to run in on goal and try to beat the keeper.
"I was quite good at it and only missed once, but I cant see that particular part of the American game helping me at Charlton too much!"
Charlton Athletic have signed Bartlett, whose first appearence for Charlton was as a second-half substsitute at Anfield at the beginning of December - on an extended loan until the end of the season which could lead to a permanent transfer worth £2m.
"I have been aware of Charltons interest since last year and it is a real boost for a player to know another club is watching you."
The strange penalty shoot-out system in the States may not aid Bartletts cause to make it in the Premiership, but playing in front of 30,000 people in the New York giants stadium will certainly make trips to the Premierships stadia less daunting.
Shaun added: "It has always been a dream of mine to play in Europe and the Premiership in particular. I believe my experiences in America have helped me adapt to the different culture outside of South Africa, and now its up to me to prove that Im worth all the attention."