Chiefs coach assesses Luke Baartman’s delayed debut

Kaizer Chiefs co-coach Khalil Ben Youssef has offered his assessment on the long-awaited introduction of highly-touted prospect Luke Baartman to the senior team.

This comes after the young attacker made his first official appearance for the Soweto giants. Baartman made his debut in the Betway Premiership fixture against TS Galaxy at Mbombela Stadium on Sunday, the final PSL match of 2025.

The SA Under-20 international entered the fray as a second-half substitute during the goalless stalemate against “The Rockets.”

The acquisition of Baartman was one of the key moves by Amakhosi during the off-season to bolster their squad for the 2025/26 campaign, signing him from relegated side Cape Town Spurs.

The Luke Baartman Clearance Saga

Baartman, alongside fellow former CT Spurs player Asanele Velebayi, faced an initial hurdle in featuring for Chiefs. Their former club, “The Urban Warriors,” controversially refused to issue their clearances, arguing that their existing contracts invalidated a free transfer to the glamour club.

However, the PSL Dispute Resolution Chamber (DRC) ruled in favour of the players, declaring both Baartman and Velebayi free agents and clearing the path for them to officially begin their careers with the Soweto giants. Despite the successful legal battle, Baartman then faced tough competition for a spot, delaying his inclusion in the matchday squad until the weekend.

Ben Youssef’s Verdict

Following the match, co-coach Ben Youssef was positive about Baartman’s brief but impactful debut performance against Galaxy, emphasising that the opportunity was merit-based.

“I think all players deserve to play. We have a big squad now, and there’s a lot of competition between the players,” Ben Youssef stated.

The coach elaborated on the selection process: “For us as coaches, we are with them at the training sessions, and we see which player is more ready for the game. We also prepare the plan of the game on substitutions.”

Addressing the youngster’s specific performance, Ben Youssef confirmed the potential Baartman displayed. “Baartman came on in the 80th minute. He played well in the last 10 minutes. He created a lot of opportunities for us. We have to continue working; the most important thing is the team and not the player,” he concluded.