‘My legs shake, my heart aches’

PETALING JAYA: It was a heartbreaking sight.

Footballer Faisal Halim, with the acid- attack scars evident on his face and hand, broke down during a press conference, his first public appearance since the horrifying incident.

Gone was the usually jovial “Mickey”. In his place was a sad-looking Faisal, who still put up a brave front.

ALSO READ: No more Mr Nice Guy, says Faisal

The Harimau Malaya player announced his intention to be back on the pitch with his teammates soon.

“I miss football; my legs are shaking and my heart aches,” said the Selangor player, unable to hold back his tears.

Speaking at the Selangor Football Training Centre yesterday, he opened up about the ordeal he has had to go through.

It was so painful that he had even wanted to give up the sport, but Faisal refused to give in.

ALSO READ: Faisal tells about pain of not being able to hug four-year-old son

He said he will not give up on his football career despite the horrific acid attack by unknown assailants on May 5.

The 26-year-old striker is unsure when he will return to the pitch although he very much wants to feel the grass under his boots again.

“The doctors say I need at least three months to recover well enough so I can return to training,” he said.

“But my goal is to be back in a little over a month. I am recovering quite fast; maybe it’s everyone’s prayers that have helped me.”

Faisal is, however, grateful for one thing: he and his family are all right.

“I had considered going back to my hometown and leaving football behind.

“I don’t mind leaving my salary of tens of thousands, as long as my family and I are safe.

“But the team assured me that my family would be taken care of, which made me determined to recover and get back on the pitch,” Faisal said.

The biggest pain during his post-acid attack recovery, he said, was not being able to hug his four-year-old son due to the burns on his arms and face.

“I’m very close with my son. After this happened to me, I had to go more than a month without being able to hug him.

“It’s a seemingly simple task for a father, but I was unable to accomplish it. My son could not feel his father’s love.

“Despite my discharge and return home, my wounds still prevented me from hugging him. It was only about four or five days ago when I could finally hug him,” he said.

With Fathers Day on Sunday, that was all he could ask for.