Baartman credits Da Cruz’s for strong start at Chiefs

Kaizer Chiefs junior Luke Baartman has praised his coach Fernando Da Cruz for his impressive beginning to the season. Having struggled during his first season under co-coaches Cedric Kaze and Khalil Ben-Youssef, the 20-year-old has been a regular at the club this term. Baartman has featured in eight matches across all competitions and scored one goal.

This strong start has resulted in his selection for the South African Under-23 squad, which will face Algeria in two consecutive friendly matches in Bloemfontein on Thursday and Sunday.

During a recent media day at Clapham High School in Queenswood, Baartman credited Da Cruz and his dedication to training for his successful start. He stated, "It's up to me to listen to him (Da Cruz), then get better and better." Baartman emphasized the significance of playing for a club like Chiefs and how his upbringing at Cape Town Spurs provided him with a strong foundation to adapt to various positions.

However, he revealed that his preferred position on the pitch is the number nine role, followed by the false nine. Despite missing out on the Amajita squad that won the COSAFA and the Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations due to an injury, Baartman is thrilled to be back in the national team setup and hopes to aid the South African Under-23s in qualifying for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.