Bartlett: New job a challenge

Cape Town - Newly appointed assistant coach of the U23 national team Shaun Bartlett says that international football can be challenge on various levels.

"The actual difference is the amount of training time with the players before a game; you pretty much have to fast track everything such as pitching ahead of the game," the former Bafana Bafana and Charlton Athletic striker said.

"You also need to remember that each player comes from a different club, and plays a different style; you also mostly have about four or five days to make sure they play your style when it comes to the game."

Bartlett hopes that his football experience will rub-off on the players and is fully aware of the challenges that come with his new job.

"It’s a step up, it’s obviously about impacting my experience and my knowledge that I’ve gained, and hopefully to help these players in this short space of time to achieve the goal we have set ourselves out for," he told Sport24.

The U23 side will face Zimbabwe on Sunday, 19 June in an Olympic Games qualifier.