KUALA LUMPUR – Kuala Lumpur City FC revealed that the club will not rule out the possibility of bringing national footballer Luqman Hakim Shamsudin back home should he desire to continue his career in Malaysia.
The club’s response follows heavy scrutiny faced by Luqman on social media for allegedly not aligning with the Harimau Muda’s gameplay at the Under-23 Asian Cup.
Critics suggest that playing in Malaysia could better integrate him with the team.
Over the years, Luqman’s football career has taken him across continents, from signing with KV Kortrijk in Belgium to playing on loan with both Njarðvík FC in Iceland and now YSCC Yokohama in Japan.
The 22-year-old striker, who has nine senior Malaysia appearances to his name, was under the tutelage of Juan Torres Garrido in Qatar, where the Harimau Muda were eliminated from the tournament with zero points, having lost all three of their group matches and finished bottom in Group D with one goal scored and six goals conceded.
The Harimau Muda’s best achievement in the U23 Asian Cup was in 2018 when they reached the quarter-finals in China.
Speaking to Scoop, KL City chief executive Stanley Bernard revealed that the club had approached Luqman a couple of years ago before he embarked on his journey to Europe.
“We did approach Luqman Hakim about a couple of years ago, and we were in discussions to bring him on board. But at that time, he was clear about his intention to stay in Europe, and I respected his decision.
“If he wants to make a comeback to Malaysia, we will not rule out the chances, but we will have to go through some considerations. I can’t guarantee or say anything for now as the season is about to start, and we will have no plans to get him on board.
“Who knows? With his age and experience, we may consider it in the future; let’s see how it goes,” said Stanley when contacted.
Stanley added that Luqman receiving criticism from fans was common in football and said the situation would only change if he started performing well on the pitch.
“In terms of the criticisms that Luqman is receiving, it comes with football performances – regardless of whether he’s in Europe or Malaysia. For me, if he plays in the national team and puts on a decent performance, everything will be alright.
“If he doesn’t perform well, of course, people are going to criticise him because the fans have already created expectations towards him. That’s football, and it’s a very volatile industry.
“Whether he plays well in Europe or plays in Malaysia, it guarantees nothing if he doesn’t perform well,” Stanley added.
KL City FC maintained their mid-table grip in the Super League last season as they finished seventh with 38 points.
In 2021, the club under the guidance of Bojan Hodak made waves by lifting the Malaysia Cup, outperforming their limited budget to defeat powerhouses Johor Darul Ta’zim in the final.
The Croatian’s cup-winning team featured experienced players such as Safee Sali, Shukor Adan and Indra Putra Mahayuddin. – April 25, 2024