The 20-year-old was a constant threat on the left wing and, in a side that at times battled for creativity last season, looked dangerous almost every time he touched the ball.
He is in his fourth season as a professional but is still only 20 years old, and Saturday’s clash was only the 10th start of his career, from 32 appearances in all.
When he burst onto the scene as a 17-year-old with Cape Town Spurs in 2023, there was an immediate ‘wow’ factor as he made his debut in a 2-1 win over Orlando Pirates.
Those in the know in Cape Town football circles had spoken of his talent for a few years, but he came through in a struggling Spurs side that were ultimately relegated that season.
He played a bit-part role in their Motsepe Foundation Championship campaign the following year, which also ended in relegation, making two starts in 12 appearances before moving to Chiefs for the 2025/26 campaign.
He made one start in seven appearances as experience was preferred over youth, but his place in the team for the opening game of this campaign will hopefully be a turning point.
Baartman may have had a fallow few years, but he is a player who can drive Chiefs forward in attack and will most likely, over time, end up as a central playmaker behind the strikers.
But for now, he is keeping Pule Mmodi out of the side on the left, with the more experienced Ethan Chislett, another who played a bit-part role last season, preferred in the ‘10’ position.
“It’s good being a Kaizer Chiefs player, but it’s been tough for me not playing,” Baartman said last season. “There’s a lot of competition in the team, so I just need to continue working hard in training and on the field, and leave the rest up to the coaches.
“When I arrived, the team was doing well, even though there were ups and downs, like anywhere. If the coaches had given me more chances, I think I would have done better.”
He feels competition for places in the team will drive everyone forward.
“When the people playing ahead of me are doing well, I also do well,” he said.
An in-form Baartman would also be an interesting proposition for Bafana Bafana as they build towards the next World Cup.
He is already a junior international and excelled in the age-group teams, so the step up to senior international football would be a natural progression.
But that will only happen with regular minutes at Chiefs, whose next assignment is an MTN8 quarter-final against Lamontville Golden Arrows next weekend.
