Baartman credits Da Cruz’s for strong start at Chiefs

His great start to the season has seen him receive a call-up to the South African Under-23 squad that will face Algeria in back-to-back friendlies in Bloemfontein on Thursday and Sunday.

Speaking to the reporters during a SA Under-23 media day at Clapham High School in Queenswood on Tuesday, Baartman attributed his strong start to the season to Da Cruz and his own hard work at training.

Having missed out on the Amajita squad that won the COSAFA and the Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations last year due to an injury, Baartman is delighted to be back in the national team set-up and is looking forward to helping SA Under-23s qualify for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.