Arthur Bartman has insisted that Kaizer Chiefs is good enough to challenge for the Absa Premiership this season despite being knocked out of the Telkom Knockout a week ago.

Kaizer Chiefs has declared the 2012/2013 season as a season to ‘RECLAIM THE GLORY’ and the good start by the team in the Absa Premiership has given the fans hope about good things to come.

“There is still a strong belief that we can still do even better this season,” said Arthur Bartman who was in goals as Chiefs lost to Bidvest Wits last week - and a hero in the same Cup as Chiefs conquered in the 2009/2010 season.

“The most important thing is to take it one game at a time. We need to focus and not get carried away. We have had a solid start and we are top of the Absa Premiership. We are all committed to the cause and bringing back the glory is our main focus every time we step on the pitch.

Sometimes in football though, like it happened against Bidvest Wits in the Telkom Knockout, things might not go your way. You need to be ready to dust yourself off and we are ready to get three points against Maritzburg.

Bartman was in the same team that finished as runners up to Mamelodi Sundowns back in 1998/1999 season; “We had a very good team with the likes of Doc (Doctor Khumalo), Ace (Donald Khuse), Fani Madida, Jacob Tshisevhe and Lifa Gqosha. The team was superb in all departments.

The current team has quality from the goalkeeping department to the forwards. We have a very experienced Technical Team and the spirit in the camp has been superb. The team has also showed character despite all the injuries to some of the top players.

If we focus we can certainly go all the way,” continued Bartman speaking to kaizerchiefs.com on Thursday ahead of the team’s departure to KwaZulu Natal.

Bartman has good memories of growing up in Maritzburg; “I remember playing for Maritzburg Select against Kaizer Chiefs early in 1998. I was superb in goals winning the’ Man of the Match’ having kept the likes of Pollen Ndlanya and Fani Madida at bay. My dream came true as I joined Kaizer Chiefs the very same year under the then Coach, Paul Dolezer.

“It is always special to play in Maritzburg not only because it’s home but people there are passionate about football. I have no doubt that we are going to play in front of a full house,” added Bartman.