KUALA LUMPUR, 6 Aug 2020:
Malaysian teen sensation Luqman Hakim Shamsudin today completed his move to Belgian professional club KV Kortrijk on a five-year deal after months of pushing for a departure from Selangor.
At just 18, Luqman Hakim – who is a key player for the national Under 19 (U-19) squad – will be the first Malaysian to turn out in the Belgian First Division A.
It is understood that Luqman Hakim will earn around RM20,000 to RM23,000 monthly as well as be provided with an apartment and car.
He was introduced as a De Kerels (The Guys) player at a special signing ceremony, here, which was attended by local business tycoon Tan Sri Vincent Tan – who is also KV Kortrijk owner – Belgian Ambassador to Malaysia, Pascal H. Gregoire and Football Association of Selangor (FAS) secretary-general Dr Johan Kamal Hamidon.
“Great occasion for Malaysian football, this might be the first Malaysian playing in Europe and first Malaysian playing in the Belgium premier league. It’s a big decision for the club, the management thinks its too early but as an owner I said give him (Luqman Hakim) a chance,” Tan told a press conference afterwards.
Luqman Hakim is expected to leave for Kortrijk next week to undergo a medical ahead of the new Jupiler Pro League season scheduled to start this month.
The top scorer of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) U-16 Championship 2018 is delighted to finally join the Belgian side after months of protracted talks, including reports linking him with several European clubs.
“I am very proud and grateful to be given the opportunity to play there. So I hope Malaysians will pray that I can be at my 100%,” said the Kota Bharu-born player.
Had things gone as planned, Luqman Hakim would have spent three months from January training with English Championship club Cardiff City, which is also owned by Tan, before joining KV Kortrijk but the Covid-19 pandemic put paid to his plans as most countries closed their borders and he was forced to stay back.
Luqman Hakim has made it to the Guardian’s annual list of Next Generation’s 60 of the world’s best young talent and is also one of the 80 young talents around the world preliminarily listed for this year’s Golden Boy award.
The 68-year-old tycoon told the country’s young football sensation to take his responsibility as a striker seriously and to score as many goals as he could.
“If he gets to play there, I hope he will score. Nobody knows a striker who doesn’t score. Scoring goals is the main job of a striker.”
Tan said it was a gamble to bring the key player of the national under-19 squad into KV Kortrijk.
He said he had to convince the club management to sign up the Kota Bharu-born Luqman Hakim as they felt that he was too young to be given a professional contract.
“Many said he is still young and that his language handicap would be a problem in communication there; the management initially did not support (his recruitment).
“But as the club owner, I wanted a Malaysian to be given a chance to play there. My dream is like Luqman’s dream; we want Luqman to succeed.”
He advised Luqman Hakim to always work hard and stay focused on his mission to become a great player.
“After his training sessions over there, he shoud go back home and study; do not waste time. He needs to work hard as he is carrying Malaysia’s name.”
Tan does not plan to buy any Malaysia League (M-League) club any time soon, ahead of the September deadline for the privatisation of local teams.
Vincent, who owns Belgian professional club KV Kortrijk and English Championship outfit Cardiff City, said the global Covid-19 pandemic had made it difficult to make a profit from the football sector.
Apart from that, he said his good ties with the stakeholders of local football was also a determining factor as he was not keen on competing against ‘friends’.
“Football (now) is difficult for business, it’s not easy… it’s just losses and I think it’s difficult to buy a team here as everyone’s a friend. So, how do you ‘fight’ against a friend?
“This needs to be well thought out, the possibility is always there but for now I feel it’s a no.”
– Bernama