Kuala Lumpur: National teen sensation Luqman Hakim Shamsuddin is ready to do all he can to earn the right to don the national jersey on merit when the Harimau Malaya compete in the second round of the 2022 World Cup/2023 Asia Cup qualifiers in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in June.
The 19-year-old, who plies his trade with KV Kortrijk in Belgium, was called up to join the national team’s centralised training camp for the first time by head coach Tan Cheng Hoe, who said the youngster will have to battle it out with four senior strikers for a place in the starting XI.
Since there won’t be any friendlies during the training camp this time, Luqman Hakim, who is the youngest ever player to be called up by Cheng Hoe, knows he has no other option but to prove his capability during the nine days of training, which began in Johor Bahru on Monday.
“For me, it’s simple. I just have to give my 100 per cent in training. If I can play and adapt to the team’s playing style, it won’t matter whether or not I am 19 because, InsyaAllah, as long as I can contribute to the team. Anyway, it is up to the coach to decide.
“Age is not a barrier for a player to feature in the senior squad, just the maturity in your performance and training is what counts,” he told a virtual media conference, Wednesday.
Luqman Hakim will have to contend with four other strikers for a starting spot, namely the country’s latest naturalised player Guiherme de Paula (Perak FC), Muhammad Syafiq Ahmad (Johor Darul Ta’zim), Muhammad Shahrel Fikri Md Fauzi (Selangor FC) and Norshahrul Idlan Talaha (Sarawak United FC).
“Every player is the same… no difference as each has his own experience. But I must admit that they are more experienced as I am only 19 and still learning the trade,” said the former Selangor FC 2 player.
Luqman Hakim, who looks physically stronger now since his move to Belgium last August, said this was necessary to ensure he could handle the physical challenge posed by the bigger-built players in Europe.
“I still want to increase my muscle mass and endurance because over there (in Europe) I am still the smallest player,” he said, adding that he has almost recovered from the hamstring injury he suffered previously.
This is the national squad’s first centralised training in 16 months.
