Kaizer Chiefs head coach Fernando Da Cruz has revealed how he is unlocking Luke Baartman’s potential in a new role on the wing, insisting that multi-positional versatility is key to the 20-year-old’s long-term growth.
Baartman opened his goal-scoring account for the new season on Wednesday night, finding the net during Chiefs’ 2-0 Betway Premiership victory against Sekhukhune United at the FNB Stadium.
The goal capped off a strong start to the campaign for the former Cape Town Spurs star. Having managed just seven appearances across all competitions in his debut season at Naturena, Baartman has quickly forced his way into Da Cruz’s starting XI, featuring from the whistle in each of Amakhosi’s opening three fixtures.
However, his shift out wide marks a notable tactical change. Recognised primarily as a striker during his development years at the Urban Warriors, Baartman has instead been deployed on the flanks in the early stages of the 2026/27 season. That approach paid off immediately in Chiefs’ league opener, where Baartman walked away with the Man of the Match award following a 3-1 victory over top-flight newcomers Kruger United a fortnight ago.
DA CRUZ ON BAARTMAN’S TRANSFORMATION: ‘MODERN FOOTBALL REQUIRES VERSATILITY’
Da Cruz has explained that forcing the youngster out of his comfort zone is a deliberate coaching strategy aimed at rounding off his skill set for top-flight football.
“Modern football now requires players who are able to play in many positions,” said Da Cruz. “For a young player like Luke Baartman, it’s important to give him different tools to be able to play in different positions.
“The most important thing for him is to read the game, for example, knowing what to do when he receives the ball in different situations of the game.”
Baartman’s sharp rise into the starting XI comes off the back of a pre-season camp in Spain, where his attributes impressed the technical bench.
According to Da Cruz, the South African youth international’s willingness to absorb instruction has been the deciding factor in him earning a starting berth.
DA CRUZ PRAISES BAARTMAN’S ATTITUDE AND FOCUS
“It’s a player with good technical qualities and also a player with good explosiveness when he plays football,” Da Cruz noted. “He is a young player and, for the moment, he listens to what the coaches ask of him, which is very important to me.
“The most important thing for young players is to listen to what the coach wants, because sometimes young players think that they are experienced. But Luke is very focused and knows what the coach expects from him.”
Despite his early-season momentum, the technical team remains cautious about managing the young forward’s workload across a demanding campaign. With Chiefs competing on multiple fronts in the Betway Premiership, CAF Confederation Cup, Carling Knockout, and Nedbank Cup—having already exited the MTN8—managing Baartman’s minutes will be crucial.
“As an experienced coach, I know that I cannot ask Luke to perform at a high level throughout the whole season,” Da Cruz added. “Sometimes he will need to recover, so we need to support him at different times of the season.”
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