Fernando da Cruz Opens Up on Why Kaizer Chiefs Star Is Central of His Plans This Season
- Kaizer Chiefs head coach Fernando da Cruz revealed his thinking behind Luke Baartman's role in the new season
- The 20-year-old scored his first goal for the club in the 2-0 win over Sekhukhune United after earning three consecutive starts
- Da Cruz praised the former Cape Town Spurs attacker's attitude but warned the club will need to manage his workload carefully
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Kaizer Chiefs head coach Fernando da Cruz has explained why Luke Baartman has become a fixture in his starting line-up, saying the 20-year-old's willingness to follow instructions and adapt to different positions makes him a valuable asset for the club.
Baartman joined Chiefs from Cape Town Spurs, where he earned recognition as one of South African football's most promising young talents.
He featured in seven matches last season, but the arrival of Da Cruz has significantly accelerated his involvement. The attacker has started all three of Chiefs' opening league fixtures this campaign and scored his first goal for the club during Wednesday's 2-0 victory over Sekhukhune United.
Da Cruz backs versatility for Baartman's growth
Despite being known primarily as a central striker from his time at the Urban Warriors, Baartman has been deployed in wider positions under Da Cruz. The coach defended that decision, framing it as part of a deliberate approach to the player's development.
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"Modern football players can play in many positions; for young players like Baartman, it's important to give him more tools to play in different roles," Da Cruz said.
"The most important thing for him is to read the game, knowing what to do now in this situation where he plays.
Da Cruz also pointed to Baartman's pre-season performances in Spain as the moment he turned heads within the coaching staff, with that form carrying through into competitive fixtures.
Attitude sets Baartman apart, says Da Cruz
Beyond technical ability, the Chiefs coach highlighted Baartman's character as a defining quality. Da Cruz singled out the player's receptiveness to coaching guidance as something that distinguishes him from peers at the same stage of their careers.
"It's a player with good technical qualities that's interesting, and also a player with good explosiveness when he plays football, a young player who listens to what the coaches ask, which is very important to me," Da Cruz said.
"The most important thing for young players is to listen to what the coach wants. Sometimes young players act inexperienced, so for me, that's what's good; he understands what I want."
However, Da Cruz tempered expectations, acknowledging that Baartman's limited senior experience means his minutes will need to be managed carefully throughout the season.
"But with his lack of experience, he will need time to recover, so there will be moments in the season where we need to protect him," the coach added.
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Source: Briefly News
