PETALING JAYA: Faisal Halim (pic) may have been playing for the Harimau Malaya since 2019, but the call up to the national team feels like a new start for him.
Ten months is a long time to be away from the national team, but the wait is set to end for Faisal after head coach Peter Cklamovski named him in the squad for centralised training ahead of their 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers game against Nepal at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium on March 25.
“This is a new start for me, a new spirit that I have in football to help the national team,” said Faisal.
“It’s an open opportunity for me to regain my performance as it was before.
“A chance like this will surely make any player have more enthusiasm on the pitch,” said the 27-year-old.
Faisal had been absent from the Harimau Malaya team since last May, when he became the victim of an acid attack that left him with severe burns and his career in the balance.
Faisal, who recently scored a hattrick against Kelantan in Selangor’s 7-0 win in the Super League, was thankful to get the call to the national team once again.
“I’m thankful to get the call up for the first time since the incident. It’s been almost a year.
“I’m very excited to be wearing the national team jersey again,” he said.
With the clash against Nepal being Cklamovski’s first duty with the team, Faisal said players are looking forward to working with the Australian head coach during their centralised training camp starting on Monday in Johor Baru.
“With the arrival of the new coach, the players have been waiting to see what will be implemented into the team, what will be taught, and what new things we will need to learn in football.
“It is good for the team and the players,” said the player from Penang.
