Luke Baartman using regular Kaizer Chiefs role to push for continued progress

Kaizer Chiefs forward Luke Baartman says his priority is to maintain his run of first-team football after making an encouraging start to the 2026/27 season.

The 19-year-old has played in all eight of Kaizer Chiefs’ league matches so far, scoring once. That total has already exceeded the seven appearances he made during his debut campaign after moving to the club from Cape Town Spurs.

Baartman’s first season was badly interrupted after Spurs were relegated and his transfer to Kaizer Chiefs became the subject of a lengthy dispute. The move was eventually completed with the forward joining as a free agent, but legal and registration problems meant he missed pre-season and a substantial part of the opening weeks of the campaign.

He has since established himself as a regular option in the Amakhosi attack and is determined to build on that progress.

“I think it’s a great start for me, playing all the games so far in the league and it’s just for me to keep working and keep getting game time, if you don’t play you won’t get called up [to the national team] so it’s for me to keep working, keep getting game time,” Baartman said.

His consistent involvement has also required him to deal with the expectations attached to playing for one of South Africa’s biggest clubs. Baartman believes managing that pressure has been an important part of his early success at Kaizer Chiefs.

“I think there’s always pressure but it’s how you handle it, it’s how you take it, there’s pressure, you can see so far I’m doing great [at Chiefs],” he added.

Baartman offers Kaizer Chiefs flexibility across the forward line, although he has a clear preference about where he wants to play. The youngster regards the conventional No.9 position as his main role but can also operate as a false nine when required.

He says the variety of positions he can play in attack reflects the development he received before joining the club.

“You know firstly when you come from a great structure, a great development side you will be able to play everywhere up front, so for me it’s just my position is number nine, but after that it’s a false nine,” he concluded.