20 March 2019– The South African Football Association (SAFA) has joined millions of football fans around the country to mourn the sudden passing on of retired goalkeeper, Arthur Bartman.

He was 46.

In his playing days, the former goalkeeper coach turned out for several professional clubs, starting with African Wanderers, where he made his PSL debut in the 1998/1999 seasons.

Among others, he was also on the books of Golden Arrows, Maritzburg United, Bush Bucks, Dynamos, Supersport United, Moroka Swallows, Cape Town City and Bay United.

Bartman was part of the Kaizer Chiefs squad that won back-to-back Telkom Knockout titles in 2009 and 2010, where he retired in 2013 after 22 years as a professional footballer.

“Our thoughts go out to his family, friends, relatives, former teammates and everyone at Maritzburg United. South Africa is currently in need of coaches, especially goalkeeper coaches, to help develop this country even more. The loss of Bartman is a serious knock on football development but we are forever indebted to people like him who stayed on in the game long after their retirement to plough back to the future of this country, because we know it is not an easy transition to move from playing to coaching and be good at it,” said SAFA President Dr Danny Jordaan.

“It is also sad that his passing on comes shortly after the death of former Bafana Bafana striker Philemon Masinga recently. May his soul rest in peace and may his family be comforted during this difficult period. He shall be sorely missed.”

At the time of his untimely death, Bartman was working as a goalkeeper coach at Maritzburg United.

FACT FILE:

NAME:                                       Arthur Bartman

BORN:                                        26 March 1972

DIED:                                          19 March 2019

POSITION:                               Former goalkeeper and goalkeeper coach

FORMER CLUBS:                  Kaizer Chiefs, Bay UnitedFree State StarsDynamosMoroka SwallowsSupersport UnitedBush BucksMaritzburg CityAfrican Wanderers, Crystal Brains, Rebels FC, Royal Tigers, MBO Lions, Maritzburg United and Real Taj