PETALING JAYA: For Luqman Hakim Shamsudin, progress this season has not come in sudden bursts or headline-grabbing moments.
Instead, it has been built quietly, game by game, mistake by mistake, anchored by something far more valuable than form alone - belief.
The Negri Sembilan striker is quick to deflect attention away from himself.
Gratitude comes first.
To the team, to the coaching staff, and especially to coach Nidzam Jamil, whom Luqman, 23, credits for restoring the confidence that allows him to play freely again.
“Every improvement comes from trust,” Luqman shared.
“The coaches gave me the confidence to play, and my teammates have been very supportive. With each match, I’ve learned from my mistakes and become better.”
That sense of stability has been crucial for a player whose career has unfolded under an intense spotlight.
Now into the second round of the Super League season, Luqman appears more settled not just in his role, but in his understanding of what the team need from him.
Despite joining a refreshed attacking unit, he insists that he never faced problems adapting. Playing alongside forwards such as Jovan Motika, Takumi Sasaki and Joseph Esso, Luqman highlights professionalism as the key to quick chemistry.
“They are very professional, and it’s easy to understand each other.
“But we still need to improve. Our aim is to help the team finish in a better position.”
Negri Sembilan currently sit sixth in the league standings with 17 points from 12 matches
That honesty reflects a wider maturity in Luqman’s outlook. There is no grand talk of individual accolades. Improvement, he believes, begins internally with mentality.
“As a striker or winger, you need a lot of energy. It starts with mindset. Those physical demands are what push you to become a better player.”
His perspective extends beyond club football too. Asked about the level of competition domestically, Luqman sees no inferiority complex in the Malaysian League.
In fact, he believes the intensity is comparable to regional competitions, including Thailand’s.
“The intensity is similar. And year by year, I believe the Malaysian League will continue to move forward.”
Yet perhaps the clearest indication of his growth lies in how far ahead he is looking.
Luqman has set his sights firmly on 2026 not as a countdown, but as a direction.
“My teammates and I want to take Negeri Sembilan to a higher level.
“Personally, I want to keep improving and, of course, earn a place in the national team.”
For Luqman, this season is less about proving others wrong and more about proving something to himself that with patience, trust and the right environment, progress will always follow.
