FOR more than three decades, the national football team have been unable to forge a lethal strikeforce on the international front.
There is no proven frontline that spring to the minds of fans, as many national coaches tried, some with limited success, with various combinations.
This has led the FA of Malaysia (FAM) to the extent of recruiting naturalised players to give more bite to Harimau Malaya.
Last year, Gambian-born Mohamadou Sumareh, who plays for Super League side, Pahang, was drafted by FAM as a naturalised player.
FAM are still looking for talent, and experimenting, local or foreign; the focus on strikers for goals and results.
In this aspect, Timesport feel that it’s time for FAM to try the “SAL” attack, which is based on the 4-3-3 system.
That’s the acronym for Safawi Rasid, Akhyar Rashid and Luqman Hakim.
Arguably, these three aces are presently the most talented forwards in Malaysia. Indeed they are young and dangerous.
Safawi, 22, and Akhyar, 20, are both with Super League champions JDT, and every fan of the M-League already knows how good they are.
Luqman proved to be a class act in the Asean Football Federation (AFF) Under-18 Championship in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, last week. He played a key role in Malaysia’s run to the final.
Even the much vaunted Australians, who emerged winners of the AFF meet, have learned to fear Luqman.
Australia coach Gary Van Egmond revealed that he had told his players to keep a real close watch on Luqman after the damage he had done to the Socceroos in a group match earlier.
The 1.7m Luqman showed much pace, forcing the Australian team to put several players on him every time he had the ball during the final. Australia won 1-0 in a closely contested match.
In the group match, Luqman plundered two goals against favourites Australia as Malaysia outplayed the Socceroos 3-0.
Luqman looks a good fit to form a trident attack with Safawi and Akhyar for the national senior team.
Punchy and predatory, Luqman can play on either flank of the Malaysian attack while the skilful Safawi should operate in central attack. Akhyar can add more sting with his pressure game.
Though only 17, Luqman shows great maturity and good ball control in his game. The Kota Baru-born teenager has amassed much experience since joining the National Football Development Programme (NFDP) when he was 12.
Luqman was instrumental in helping the NFDP Under-13 team win the Iber Costa del sol Cup in Spain in 2015. Last year, he won the Golden Boot in the AFF Under-16 championship with five goals.
National coach Tan Cheng Hoe should give Luqman a senior tryout as Malaysia prepare for the second round of the 2022 World Cup/2023 Asian Cup qualifiers.
Malaysia have been drawn in Group G together with the United Arab Emirates, Vietnam, Thailand, and Indonesia.
Malaysia will kick off their campaign on Sept 5 against Indonesia in Jakarta before hosting the UAE on Sept 10 at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil.
Cheng Hoe can try the “SAL” attack if he has a headache coming up with a potent strikeforce.