As we approach the first full weekend of sport in this month, we thought we would get former Charlton, Kaizer Chiefs and Bafana (among others...) legend and now SuperSport stalwart Shaun Bartlett to tell us a little about himself, and what he's looking forward to as an amazing April awaits us...
Tell us a little about your amazing football career
Growing up in Cape Town we played all sports on a daily basis but football was always the favorite. I started my professional career as a part-time footballer with Cape Town Spurs in 1992, where we won the league & Bobsave Cup in 1995.
After winning Afcon in 1996 with Bafana Bafana, I moved to America where I played for Colorado Rapids and New York/New Jersey Metrostars as a full-time professional.
I represented Bafana Bafana again in the 1998 World Cup in France, which was the pinnacle of my international career, scoring two goals against Saudi Arabia.
I then joined FC Zurich in Switzerland before moving across two years later to Charlton Athletic in the Premier League in 2000.
I came back home after spending six years at Charlton to play for Kaizer Chiefs, which we all know to be the biggest club in SA where we won the Telkom Cup & Supa 8 cups.
I retired in 2009 after playing for 18 years across the globe.
Take us through your SuperSport journey, once your playing days were over
I started working at SuperSport after meeting Imtiaz Patel at a golf event in 2007. Being a football analyst never crossed my mind but it felt comfortable as I knew what I was talking about as a former player and later on also as a coach who managed to get success very early on in my career by promoting two different teams to the elite level of football in SA
Which sports do you enjoy watching and why? Is it all football, or do you have other loves?
Fortunately I grew up playing all kinds of sports. From cricket, tennis, table tennis, athletics and later on in life I also started playing golf and padel.
I enjoy watching all sports as I even managed to learn sports like baseball, basketball & American football.
SuperSport turned 30 year last year, and we really enjoyed going back over the highlights. What were the top highlights from your football career?
Winning the Afcon in 1996 with Bafana Bafana will always be a highlight as that put my career on the world map and kickstarted my elevation to the highest level of football.
But also the Springboks winning the World Cup in 1995, and without a doubt Chad Le Clos winning gold in the 2012 Olympics, were goosebumps moments in our country.
Share a personal highlight from your time at SuperSport
Nothing will beat being part of the production that brought not only South Africans but the whole continent the 2010 Football World Cup. What an extraordinary moment in my TV career as a pundit and proud South African.
What’s your guilty viewing pleasure – doesn’t have to be sport…?!
I love watching crime series on DStv and sometimes binge watch most of these shows when time allows.
Looking at all the sport happening in April – what are you looking forward most to watching?
Local sporting events will always be on top of list.
Nedbank Cup coming a conclusion will be at the top along with the race to the title for the Betway Premiership.
The Premier League action as we are the only company that shows every game live on telly.
Also, The Masters will always be one of my favorite sport events as Tiger Woods got me glued for many years during this event.
And of course being involved with the Champions League for the past two seasons should present some interesting fixtures as we get closer to seeing the new Champions in 2026.
Being from Cape Town I always support the local teams, ie Stormers, WP cricket teams, but I also enjoy watching the entertainment that is the IPL.
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Thanks Shaun - and if you want to see everything that's lined up in April (including Shaun's picks), have a look at what is lined up below.
Stay with us or join us, just don't miss this box-office sports offering...
WEEK 1
WEEK 2
WEEK 3
WEEK 4
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