Kaizer Chiefs attacker Luke Baartman has opened up about his lack of game-time at the club this season, admitting it’s been a bit tough.
Baartman, 19, joined Amakhosi in August 2025 as a free agent having spent the last season with Cape Town Spurs who got relegated to the ABC Motsepe League.
However, he has found it tough to break into the starting 11 at the club coming on as a second-half substitute in all his five league appearances so far this season. In total he has played six matches in all competitions, the other coming in the CAF Confederation Cup.
The last time he featured for the Naturena-based outfit was in the goalless draw away at Polokwane City in April in the Betway Premiership.
The player spoke to the media ahead of Chiefs’ last league game against Chippa United at Moses Mabhida Stadium and admitted it’s tough not playing regularly, also adding that he can only do his best in training and leave everything in the hands of the coaches.
“It’s good to be a Kaizer Chiefs player but I’d say it’s been a bit tough for me not playing but there’s a lot of competition in the team,” said Baartman.
“So what I do is just to work on the field and give my best and it’s up to the coaches. When we are leading maybe 1-0 and I’m on the bench and I come on, you can say it’s good to come on when you are leading. Then there’s not so much pressure on you.
“When you are losing and you come on every time maybe playing 15 minutes it’s been tough. Maybe we are behind now it’s all about attacking, if you rush in attack you lose the ball and you must defend. The game goes like that the whole time.
“The thing is here you just have to be patient and do your work on the field and it’s up to the coaches.”
Did you know that the iDiski Times Digital Newspaper is completely free! Download it now by clicking the button below or fill in the form to have it sent to you every week.