Sekhukhune United defender Ryan Baartman has been forced into retirement at the age of 28 due to injury.
The defender joined Babina Noko in 2023 after an outstanding season in the Motsepe Foundation Championship with All Stars FC and was touted for a major breakthrough in the top-flight.
He featured 11 times for the first team under then head coaches Brandon Truter and Lehlohonolo Seema, but this season injury struck during training where he suffered a slipped disc in his back and underwent surgery.
iDiski Times has been informed the player was advised to end his professional career as the back injury would persist and could cause further complications in the future, should he continue playing.
It comes a major blow for the ball-playing centre-back who was aiming for a breakthrough in the top-flight this season under Eric Tinkler and brings an end to his career prematurely.
Baartman started his professional career with Santos a decade ago – before stints with Cape Town City, Steenberg United, Cape Umoya, and All Stars before his move to Sekhukhune.
Story by Lorenz Kohler (@Lorenz_KO).
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