Still lethal: Selangor’s Faisal Halim (No. 7) proved he’s back at his best by scoring thrice in the team’s 7-0 thrashing of Kelantan in a Super League match.
KUALA LUMPUR: Selangor forward Faisal proved he is an epitome of determination with a fierce fortitude.
Faisal, fondly known as Mickey, showed he still possessed a lethal touch despite enduring a horrific acid attack 10 months ago, by delivering a stunning hattrick in Selangor’s 7-0 thrashing of Kelantan at MBPJ Stadium on Saturday.
With the win, Selangor sealed their place as the second best behind Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) in the Super League and will compete again in the Asian Champions League Two next season.
The star of the match was certainly the 27-year-old Faizal.
After spending weeks in the hospital and undergoing multiple skin graft surgeries, with many fearing his career was over, Faisal has defied expectations and remained as agile as ever on the pitch.
He blasted the goals in the 13th, 45th and 66th minutes while others who found the net were Quentin Cheng in the 31st minute, Harith Haiqal with two goals in the 54th and 56th minutes, and Aliff Izwan Yuslan in the 73rd minute.
Faisal was grateful to be part of the team’s success.
“Thank you to all the fans. Thank you to the people of Selangor. These three goals are for all of you, for the people of Selangor, for the club,” said Faisal.
“Thank you to my teammates, the management, and all the Selangor supporters.”
For Selangor head coach Katsuhito Kinoshi, he is also impressed by the unwavering spirit shown by Faizal.
“I’m satisfied with Faisal’s performance because the three goals he scored were exceptional. He always gives his all in training, even though he previously had limited playing time,” said Kinoshi.
“He understood that his time will come, and I know he wanted to play more regularly. This time, I’m happy he was able to showcase his true ability in front of the fans.
“I hope he can maintain this momentum against stronger teams because he is always a role model for young players.
“He consistently gives 100 per cent in training, even when he is not on the field. His attitude is simply fantastic.”
At the same time, he wants Faisal and Co to prepare themselves for tougher challenges, as they will be up against stronger teams at the Asian level next year.
“When we talk about the Malaysian League, it may feel comfortable for our team. But if we want to push ourselves further, we need to step out of that comfort zone,” said Kinoshi.
“The Asian Champions League Two will be a tough challenge because the opponents we will face are much stronger.
“The reason we must break free from our comfort zone is to become a better team, and the players, of course, want to grow and improve as well.
“If we repeat what we did this season next year, nothing will change. We need to show greater determination, build mental resilience, and have the hunger to take on next season’s challenges,” said Kinoshi.
This season, Selangor also competed in the Asian Champions League Two but saw their campaign end early in the group stage. They finished third in Group H, two points behind Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors and just one point short of Muangthong United.
