Latest news with #FaisalHalim
South China Morning Post
3 days ago
- Health
- South China Morning Post
Recalled Malaysian footballer who was hurt in acid attack still avoids shopping centres
Malaysian footballer Faisal Halim said 'he is not scared' but still avoids shopping centres 13 months after being doused in acid while out with his family, leaving him with fourth-degree burns. Advertisement The striker, who had been a mainstay of the national team since making his debut in 2019, was recalled to the Malaysia squad in March for their Asian Cup qualifier against Nepal. He is in line to face Vietnam on June 10 at Kuala Lumpur's Bukit Jalil Stadium in another qualifying match as the Harimau, or Tigers, bid to reach back-to-back Asian Cups for the first time since 1980. The Vietnamese lead Group F on goal difference from Malaysia after one game. Halim appeared as a 74th-minute substitute in his side's 2-0 win over the Nepalese, in what was his first international game since the attack, and Malaysia head coach Peter Cklamovski told media this week that Halim was increasingly gaining his trust. 'Faisal plays an important role for Harimau Malaysia,' the Australian said. Faisal Halim (in yellow) came on as a substitute in Malaysia's 2-0 win over Nepal. Photo: AFP One of Malaysia's most famous footballers, Halim sustained burns on his neck, shoulder, hands and chest when an unknown assailant threw acid on him in the attack in May last year, leaving him physically and emotionally scarred.
BBC News
3 days ago
- Health
- BBC News
'I'm not scared' - Malaysia hero's courage to play again after acid attack
Faisal Halim avoids shopping malls these of Malaysia's most famous footballers, the forward was in the prime of his career when a routine shopping trip with his family 13 months ago changed his life was at a mall in the township of Kota Damansara where Faisal was splashed with acid by an unknown assailant and left with fourth-degree burns, which needed four surgeries and several days in intensive attack left him scarred physically and emotionally."I am not scared, but I just don't want something like that to happen again," Faisal, 27, tells BBC Sport."So I don't go out any more. Once training is done, I go home to spend time with my son, my wife and my family."Just three months earlier, he had scored the biggest goal of his career for his country as Malaysia held Son Heung-min's South Korea at the Asian Cup in January winger picked up possession inside the box and left Bayern Munich centre-back Kim Min-jae and goalkeeper Jo Hyeon-woo on the floor with his trickery, before finishing on the turn from a tight angle in the thrilling 3-3 strike took his tally to 13 goals in 21 appearances for Malaysia between September 2022 and January 2024 - he was undoubtedly the biggest star for both his club Selangor FC and country. But fate conspired to change his outlook on life and a career that was blossoming, having started out at 17 with home state team Penang and flourished with a 2023 move to to his face, neck, shoulders, hands and chest after the attack impeded Faisal's speech and mobility, meaning he did not touch a football for more than two months."Every moment, I would get flashbacks," he recalls of his time in hospital. "It was very difficult and I was mentally down, my morale was very low."Many things have changed. I cannot smile properly now."There were times when I considered not playing football any more out of fear. But I received a lot of calls and messages every day. I could not hold the phone while in the hospital, so my wife used to read out all the messages from the fans."The whole of Malaysia prayed for me. It gave me more courage to play again."In July 2024, Faisal began a month of recovery and personal training with Selangor before making the bench the following month in a Malaysian FA Cup semi-final tie - exactly 90 days after the traumatic to action has not been without its are the days when he was the first name on the Selangor and Malaysia teamsheet, but Faisal believes the challenging times are now behind him."I just want to play," he says. "I am confident, normal and 100%. I am ready to play. I just want more time on the pitch."Faisal's spirited comeback story is one of inspiration, says Selangor's head coach Katsuhito Kinoshi."What Faisal needs to do is show his positive and unbreakable mentality to our fans and Malaysian football," he adds."He is someone who has the power to move fans, not only on the pitch but also off it." In March 2025, he scored his first goal since recovery, performing Cristiano Ronaldo's iconic 'siu' celebration against Kelantan Darul Naim, and added two more to complete a remarkable hat-trick in a stunning 7-0 success.A call-up to the national team followed and Faisal made a substitute appearance in the 2-0 win against Nepal in the Asian Cup qualifiers on 25 March to earn his first minutes for Malaysia since the acid attack."It's exciting to watch [Faisal] in the national team set-up," said Malaysia's Australian head coach Peter Cklamovski, a former assistant of Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou."He's a fantastic winger, an exciting player who has the ability to really hurt teams when he goes forward."Faisal plays with intensity and intent in everything he does. I'm sure this is a good moment for him to come back to the national team. He deserves it and I feel like he has a story to tell."Malaysia, ranked 131st in the world, are battling with Vietnam, Nepal and Laos to reach back-to-back Asian Cups for the first time since hopes to play a part in helping them achieve their target, having been named in the squad for the 10 June qualifier at home to Vietnam, who lead Group F on goal difference from Malaysia after one vowed to "get better than before" and Selangor coach, and former Serbia assistant manager, Kinoshi backed him to show his prowess again."Faisal has been an important part of Selangor FC and Malaysia national team in the past and I am sure he will have that influence again at the club and international stage very soon."
Sinar Daily
27-05-2025
- Sinar Daily
Tunku Ismail on attacks and influence: 'Learn to accept it, or try to finish me off'
TMJ firmly denied any involvement in the cases that have captured national attention, including the acid attack on national footballer Faisal Halim and the assault involving a group of 'skinheads' at a local punk concert. Tunku Mahkota Ismail SHAH ALAM – The Regent of Johor (TMJ), Tunku Mahkota Ismail has finally addressed recent attempts to link him to several high-profile criminal incidents. He firmly denied any involvement in the cases that have captured national attention, including the acid attack on national footballer Faisal Halim and the assault involving a group of 'skinheads' at a local punk concert. Responding to the rumours, Tunku Ismail made it clear that neither he nor his football club, Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT), would resort to such actions. 'Whispers and speculations tried to associate me with the Faisal Halim incident. Let me be clear: neither I nor JDT would stoop to such a low level. I am a soldier. If I have something to say or do, I will not hide behind cowardly actions like that,' he wrote on Facebook. He also addressed insinuations linking him to the recent assault at a punk concert involving individuals from the 'skinhead' subculture. 'Some have tried to link that incident to me. A local punk concert, no less. Does my face look like someone who spends time headbanging at underground punk gigs?' he said with sarcasm. Tunku Ismail acknowledged that some people may feel threatened by the extent of his influence across various sectors in Malaysia. However, he made it clear that he has no intention of stepping back or fading away. 'If anyone is unsettled by my influence, that is their problem. It is part of the ecosystem. I am only 41, and my influence, power, experience, and resources will only grow from here. Influence, in my position, is not optional — it is inevitable. Over time, it will only strengthen. 'So here is my to accept it, or try to finish me off completely,' he added. More Like This Newly appointed Real Madrid's coach Xabi Alonso gives a press conference during his official presentation at Real Madrid Sports City in Valdebebas, near Madrid, on May 26, 2025. Real Madrid announced in a statement on May 25, 2025, that Xabi Alonso has been appointed the new coach of Real Madrid with the 43-year-old Spaniard to take over from June 1, and lead the team at the Club World Cup. "Xabi Alonso will be the Real Madrid coach for the next three seasons, from June 1, 2025 until June 30, 2028,". (Photo by Thomas COEX / AFP)
Malay Mail
25-05-2025
- Sport
- Malay Mail
Faisal Halim eager to repay coach's trust in upcoming international fixtures after second Harimau Malaya call-up
JOHOR BAHRU, May 25 — National player, Faisal Halim, is determined to repay the trust of head coach Peter Cklamovski by helping Harimau Malaya achieve success if given an opportunity to join the squad for upcoming matches. According to Faisal, he is 100 per cent ready and will give his best, acting as a morale booster for the team to play with more spirit and achieve encouraging results. The Selangor FC winger said this is the second call-up from the Australian-born head coach, and he feels it was time for him to regain what he had missed previously. 'Alhamdulillah...I received another call from coach (Cklamovski) and I am determined to rediscover my previous rhythm of play... in fact, now I am more enthusiastic and want to forget the dark moments that happened. 'However, I leave it to the coach... if he (Cklamovski) feels I'm not ready, I have no problem, but as a player, I will give my best,' he told reporters at a press conference for the Tier 1 international friendly against Cape Verde and the second Group F match of the 2026/2027 Asia Cup Qualifiers at the National Stadium, here, today. Faisal added that the match on May 29 is also an important one for the squad as preparation to face Vietnam, a team ranked higher than the national team, and demands a better performance. 'That's just ranking, we will display quality performance on the field later, we will be able to gauge the team's performance whether we need to improve or if we are ready enough to face Vietnam,' he said. Meanwhile, Cklamovski said he was happy with the training held in Johor Bahru which was divided into three phases and has now entered the second phase with more focus on forming game formations and tactical implementation, this time involving several Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT) players. He also commented that Endrick Dos Santos' presence in the training camp seemed less fit and only trained for one day and needed to be rested for a while to undergo the recovery process, while goalkeeper, Ahmad Syihan Hazmi Mohamed, reported himself in satisfactory physical condition. 'For the presence of legacy players Rodrigo Holgado and Gabriel Palmeiro who first joined the Harimau Malaya training camp in preparation for the match against Vietnam in the third round of Group F of the 2027 Asian Cup Qualifiers, it is still too early to evaluate players who have just undergone training. 'For goalkeepers, five players were called up for training but only four people underwent training for the second phase before facing Cape Verde on May 29. Haziq (Nadzli) will be released for a while to join the Asian All-Stars squad against Manchester United, on May 28 and will be called back,' he said. — Bernama
Malay Mail
11-05-2025
- Sport
- Malay Mail
National footballer Faisal Halim says disappointed by NFA decision in acid attack case but focused on comeback
KUALA LUMPUR, May 11 — National footballer Faisal Halim says he remains determined to continue his career despite expressing disappointment that the case of the acid attack against him has been classified as requiring no further action (NFA). According to Utusan Malaysia, the Selangor FC winger said he is leaving the matter entirely in the hands of the authorities, including the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM), to decide whether to pursue the case further. 'As the victim, of course I'm disappointed. But it's already happened — it's in the past. 'I really hope to be given the opportunity to return to football. If there's anything wrong with me, let me know. Don't treat me unfairly. 'I don't think I've wronged anyone. But if I have, just tell me — don't do this to me. I have a family to support,' he said at the 2025 Faisal Halim U12 Open Championship held in Mengkuang Titi yesterday. The Mengkuang Titi-born player said he is trying not to dwell on the issue, which could derail his recently revived career. 'I don't want to think about the NFA decision or anything related to it. It's out of my hands. I'll try to accept things as they are,' he was quoted as saying. Faisal, known affectionately as Mickey, said he has pursued football since childhood not for comfort, but to fulfil a dream of becoming one of the country's top players. 'I'm just a kampung boy — my home is here. I didn't become a footballer to chase an easy life, but to chase success and become the best,' he added.
