PETALING JAYA – National football sensation Luqman Hakim Shamsudin believes that good understanding between players in the current national Under-23 squad could result in a gold medal at the South East Asian (SEA) Games in Hanoi, Vietnam.
He said the good understanding within the team, coached by Brad Maloney, exhibited in several previous friendlies would give them an advantage when they take on rival teams at the biennial tournament.
“My hope is of course for the team to get the gold, not silver or bronze...just target the gold. The team has made the best preparations, we have played friendlies with Timor Leste and the Philippines.
“These friendlies have made us gel well as a team,” he told reporters after the squad’s final training session at the PKNS Sports Complex here today.
They are expected to leave for Hanoi tomorrow for the SEA Games.
Luqman said the squad would do their best and give their all in every match, even though they face tough competition in Group B.
Meanwhile, Maloney said although the competition was fierce, his charges would be able to compete if he could bring the team together in the next few days.
He said some players have clear leadership qualities that could form the core of a team that could win Malaysia the title.
“I think it’s clear that we have a clear leadership group, players like Mukhairi Ajmal Mahadi, Nik Akif Syahiran Nik Mat, Muhammad Azri Ab Ghani, Ahmad Zikri Mohd Khalili and Muhammad Azrin Afiq Rusmini. I believe all these players have leadership quality and experience.
“As for Hadi Fayyadh and Luqman Hakim, great to have them back in the team. They just arrived from abroad, but they are looking good,” he added.
Luqman plays for KV Kortrijk in the Belgian First Division, while Hadi features for Azul Claro Numazu in the Japanese J3 League.
Drawn in Group B, Malaysia is set to face Thailand at the Thien Truong Stadium in Nam Dinh on May 7, followed by Laos (May 11), Singapore (May 14) and Cambodia (May 16). Only the top two teams in each group will advance to the semi-finals.
The last time Malaysia won the “mother of all medals” in the biennial Games was in the 2011 edition in Jakarta, Indonesia, with head coach Datuk Ong Kim Swee guiding them to victory. – Bernama, May 3, 2022
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