Latest news with #FaisalHalim
The Star
02-08-2025
- Sport
- The Star
Mickey: Charity Shield can ignite Selangor's Super League campaign
PETALING JAYA: The curtain raiser for the 2025-2026 Malaysian League against Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT) in the Charity Shield is more than just a trophy match for Selangor – it is seen as a morale booster to fuel a stronger campaign this season, according to the team's star player Faisal Halim ( pic ). Faisal, better known as Mickey, said the game on Aug 8 in Johor would be the ideal platform to build momentum and test the team's readiness before facing a demanding season. 'We've been preparing for over two months. All the players are ready to play. I think we'll go there to get a positive result,' said Faisal. 'It'll be a balanced match. In football, nothing is impossible. 'We'll give our best and leave the rest to Allah – who knows, it might be our fortune. 'And I believe this is the beginning for Selangor to go all the way this season. We'll start on the right foot. 'Regardless of the outcome, even if it doesn't go our way, we must continue our fight,' said Faisal after the launch of the publicity roadshow for The Sultan of Selangor's Cup on Sept 27 at Stadium Merdeka, Kuala Lumpur. Asked whether the Red Giants were prepared for a packed schedule this season involving both domestic and international competitions, Faisal stressed that it was the players' responsibility to bear that 'burden' as part of their job. 'In the past, we had just the Super League domestically. Then last year, we went to the ACL2 (AFC Champions League 2), so we got to feel the difference in terms of rest and long-distance travel. 'But this year, we've added the Shopee Cup, which is very challenging. 'Our first game will be in Buriram. We'll travel from Kuala Lumpur to Bangkok and then take a five-hour bus ride to Buriram. That's not easy. 'Not all players enjoy that – long travel, one day of rest, then a game, then returning and immediately having another match,' he said. He stressed that every player in the Selangor squad, whether in the starting eleven or on the bench, must maintain high readiness levels as the opportunity to play could come at any time, and only those truly prepared could meet the challenge. — Bernama
New Straits Times
02-08-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Faisal Halim heartbroken over jobless footballers
PETALING JAYA: Football star Faisal Halim, who was the victim of a horrifying acid attack last year, is now sad about the plight of his peers. Faisal, who plays for Selangor, said today he has been distressed by the struggles of his fellow players, many of whom are jobless or are without clubs as the 2025-2026 M-League season starts next week. The local football fraternity knows this has much to do with the influx of foreign players into the M-League. "I'm sad to see that some of my friends, including senior players, still haven't found teams," said the 27-year-old Faisal. "Even if they're not with me at Selangor, we've all been working hard since we were young. Football is our careers, and we have to keep going." Faisal told Timesport at the Sultan of Selangor's Cup event at a shopping centre in Petaling Jaya today. However, he welcomed the Malaysian Football League's decision to allow clubs to register three more local players this season. Hopefully, the move will help many out-of-contract local footballers, and offset the impact of foreign players flooding the M-League. "With the increase in imports (15 foreign players per M-League team), we knew local players were going to be left out," said Faisal. "Now at least with this extra quota, there's hope. Even if they don't get to play right away (first 11), they'll have a team to train with, a job to keep them going, and a future to build."
New Straits Times
05-07-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Faisal Halim fired up for Asean debut
KUALA LUMPUR: Winger Faisal Halim is relishing the challenge of leading Selangor at the 2025-2026 Asean Clubs Championship (ACC). Debutants Selangor are drawn in a daunting Group A with Thailand's defending champions Buriram United and BG Pathum United, Vietnam's Cong An Ha Noi, Singapore's Tampines Rovers, and the playoff winners between Brunei's Kasuka FC and the Philippines' Dynamic Herb Cebu. Faisal, 27, said the ACC experience will be invaluable to both the Selangor team and the players. "It's a tough grouping, and the teams are strong in our group," he said. "It will be a new experience for our club after playing in the ACL2 (Asian Champions League 2) last season, and now it's the ACC and ACL2 again. "This will add value to our team because we're playing with higher-quality teams and players." The ACC, which runs from August to May, will feature 14 clubs, including Johor Darul Ta'zim, after Indonesia's withdrawal. JDT are in Group B with True Bangkok United, Thep Xanh Nam Dinh, Lion City Sailors, PKR Svay Rieng, and the winners of the Ezra FC vs Shan United playoff.
South China Morning Post
03-06-2025
- 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
03-06-2025
- 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."
