Kaizer Chiefs youngster Luke Baartman has opened up about his preferred position on the pitch while also addressing his promising form and rising influence since the start of the 2026/27 season.
Baartman has been one of the regular starters at Chiefs in the current Betway Premiership campaign under the leadership of head coach Fernando Da Cruz, who took over the coaching job in the off-season.
The South African youth international has so far featured in eight appearances across all competitions for Amakhosi and scored one goal.
Baartman managed to establish himself as the key player in Da Cruz’s team, having struggled for playing minutes in his first season at the club. The talented attacker joined Chiefs ahead of the 2025/26 season from Cape Town Spurs on a free transfer following their relegation to the ABC Motsepe League.
In his first season in Naturena, Baartman only registered seven matches, a number he has already surpassed in the first two months of the campaign.
WHAT LUKE BAARTMAN SAID ABOUT HIS BEST POSITION AND CURRENT FORM
Speaking at the South Africa Under-23 media day at Clapham High School in Queenswood, Pretoria on Tuesday, Baartman credited coach Da Cruz for his impressive start to the season. The 20-year-old also declared that his preferred position on the pitch is the number nine role.
So far this season, Baartman has been playing on both wings, in the number 10 role, while also being deployed as a false nine in some matches.
“I think it’s a great start for me, playing all the games in the league so far [means a lot]; it’s just for me to keep working hard and getting game time because if you don’t play you won’t get a [national team] call-up,” Baartman said.
Addressing his preferred role on the pitch, Baartman said: “First, I want to say that I come from a great structure [at CT Spurs] and a solid development background that allows me to play anywhere up front. But for me, my main position is a number nine, followed by the false nine.”
RELATED STORY: Kaze sets record straight on Baartman’s situation at Chiefs
