LUKE BAARTMAN is firmly on Celtic’s radar as a Hoops star of the future.
And the man who gave him his first-team debut at 17 for Cape Town Spurs reckons they are dead right to be eyeing the South African diamond he helped unearth.
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Former Bohemians, Dundalk and Galway United boss Sean Connor was the gaffer who gave Everton and Republic of Ireland icon Seamus Coleman his chance at Sligo Rovers, so he knows potential when he sees it.
Now technical director at Urban Warriors, he saw it the moment he clapped eyes on the teen known as Boere.
Connor said: “I saw Boere train on my second day here, after taking the technical director’s job at Cape Town Spurs.
“His spatial awareness, movement and pace reminded me immediately of Craig Bellamy and Henrik Larsson from when they were at Celtic.
“I’ve not had a feeling like this about a player since I gave Seamus Coleman his opportunity, and look at the career he’s gone on to have.
“As soon as I brought Luke into the first team, he’s looked at home and not out of place, which is testimony to the young man’s character.”
Baartman was quick to repay the faith shown in him, scoring against Kaiser Chiefs in Connor’s penultimate game.
And the mentor hopes the teen is the first in a long line of kids to make their names in the game by moving to Europe.
He added: “My first remit was a strategic review, and it was evident that the club had lost its core identity.
“It was clinging on to its Ajax identity, and only parts of the Spurs identity were shining through.
“I took interim charge of the team after we parted company with Shaun Bartlett as boss.
“That’s when I found Luke and took him out of the reserves immediately.
“My job here is about changing this club and how it’s perceived, not only in South Africa but also abroad.
“That could be by bringing over boys like Sam Ramsbottom, who was at Morton and Edinburgh. If they do well and can kick on again, it’s an avenue to look at.
“It’s a model that makes some money too, a bit like Brentford or Brighton.”
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