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 Baxter gives Bartlett advice.

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

One foot in the Absa Premiership, 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.

I get support from Baxter,” Bartlett says. He gives me advice and we were constantly talking when I was getting my coaching badges in England.

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. 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 being relegated last season. Grateful for the opportunity, 42-year-old Bartlett was determined to prove himself.

The conditions in the NFD are not the best,” said Bartlett, who stepped in as coach when Muhsin Ertugral left midway 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 did not get improved.

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 R300 000. It does not add up.”

Like Chiefs, Arrows got off to a fantastic start to the season, going the first 12 matches unbeaten. Arrows have conceded the least number of goals, 23, and only Cosmos have scored more goals than them. It s my first head coach job and 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.”

But, Bartlett has bigger dreams, to work in England and to coach Bafana. You ve got to earn your stripes. I want to end up in Europe. I want to get my pro licence so that I can coach in England.”

He s certainly made a perfect start. Anything is possible from here on.

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