“We have learnt with shock of the sad news of the passing of Arthur Bartman,” lamented Kaizer Chiefs Chairman Kaizer Motaung about the club’s former goalkeeper’s death.

“On behalf of the Amakhosi Family, we express our deepest heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family.”

‘Batman’, as he was affectionally known, first joined the Glamour Boys back in the 1998/1999 season. He then left in 1999. He re-joined Kaizer Chiefs from Bay United in August 2009.

His Chiefs debut came in a game against AmaZulu on 30 August 2009, winning 3-2.

The Pietermaritzburg-born goalkeeper was at his best helping Amakhosi to beat Ajax Cape Town 2-1 to win the 2009/2010 Telkom Knockout and was deservedly voted as the Player of the Tournament.

Bartman left the club at the end of the 2012/2013 season.

He also played for a range of other clubs, including Bay United, SuperSport United, Free State Stars, Dynamos, Moroka Swallows, Bush Bucks and African Wanderers.

Former Chiefs goalkeeper coach Rainer Dinkelacker always reiterated that “Arthur was one of the most diligent players I have ever worked with”.

He later joined Maritzburg United as a goalkeeper coach.

Arthur Robin Bartman was born on 26 March 1972 in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal. He passed away on Tuesday night, 19 March 2019, at the age of 46.