Keeping possesion: Luqman Hakim Shamsuddin (left) shielding the ball from Haqimi Azim Rosli during a national Under-23 team training session ahead of the Asian Cup. — FAM
PETALING JAYA: For a talented striker whose surging runs were once likened to the legendary Datuk Mokhtar Dahari, Luqman Hakim Shamsuddin – who made big news in 2020 when he signed for Belgian club KV Kortrijk – has certainly been brought back down to earth by the Malaysian Under-23 team.
The 22-year-old is not guaranteed a starting spot in Spaniard Juan Torres Garrido’s Harimau Muda squad, who leave for Doha today for the Under-23 Asian Cup from April 15-May 3.
Many are expecting Haqimi Azim Rosli to start upfront with wingers T. Saravanan and Aliff Izwan Yuslan for Malaysia’s Group D matches with Uzbekistan, Vietnam and Kuwait.
Being on the bench for a player of Luqman’s profile and talent may take some getting used to, but he’s being very professional about the situation.
First of all, Luqman, who is now on loan to Japanese third division club Yokohama SCC, only managed to join Garrido’s squad on Thursday.
“The fact is, I’m not guaranteed a starting spot and I have to fight for it. That’s fine with me as many of the the players in the squad are mature beyond their years.
‘’Many of them have also been playing regularly in the Malaysian Super League,” said Luqman, who has so far played three games for Yokohama, providing one assist in the process, since joining them earlier this year.
“We have to be fair as every player has been giving their best at training. I know I have my work cut out to earn a regular spot but I’m prepared for the fight.’’
Being a fighter should not be a role that’s foreign for Luqman, who was a key player in the national Under-16 and Under-19 teams.
Being at Kortrijk, he has struggled to see action on a regular basis in his three years there.
In February 2023, he was loaned out to Iceland’s Division Two club Njardvik, where he played 12 matches and scored two goals before another loan move to Yokohama.
For now, Luqman is looking on the bright side as he prepares to help the Young Tigers reach at least the quarter-finals of the Under-23 Asian Cup, which is also a qualifier for the Olympics, with the top three teams earning automatic spots for Paris 2024.
“I’ve been training with the squad for almost three days. The energy levels are good and we can see that from their performances in the two friendlies against India,’’ he said.
“We’re taking a step-by-step approach in terms of game play as the tournament starts in three weeks time.’’
In Doha, Malaysia will play three more warm-up matches against China on April 3, Qatar (April 6 or 7) and a yet-to-be-decided game on April 10 or 11 before the competition kicks off.
