Former Bucks star Bartman dies
Former Bush Bucks and Bay United keeper Arthur Bartman has died.
This was confirmed by his hometown club‚ Maritzburg United‚ where he served with distinction as a player and coach.
“The club has learnt with sadness of the passing of former goalkeeper coach‚ Arthur Bartman,” the club said in a statement on Twitter.
“Prayers and thoughts go out to the Bartman family during this time. You will always be a part of the Team of Choice,” it continued.
Maritzburg did not clarify circumstances surrounding the death of the 46-year-old‚ who was born and raised in Pietermaritzburg.
Bartman had a stellar and sustained journeyman playing career and represented more than 15 top clubs since making his debut for African Wanderers in the 1997-1998 season.
He retired in June 2013 while on the books of Chiefs after a successful stay that yielded two Telkom Knockout cups in successive seasons.
Chiefs boss Bobby Motaung promised to integrate Bartman into the Amakhosi youth development system as a goalkeeper coach after he hung up his gloves‚ but the plan was never realised.
He joined Maritzburg as a goalkeeper coach under Ernst Middendorp the following month in July and said at the time he was to enrol for his coaching badges while in the job.
Bartman was a veteran of nearly 20 seasons in the professional ranks and he counted‚ among others‚ Moroka Swallows‚ Dynamos‚ Golden Arrows‚ SuperSport United and Maritzburg as his former employers.
He was to celebrate his 47th birthday on March 26.