Malaysia footballer badly hurt in acid attack came close to quitting, pledges to play again

Shah Alam – The biggest pain for Malaysian football international Faisal Halim during his recovery from an acid attack was not being able to hug his four-year-old son, he said in tears during a first public appearance on June 13 since the May attack.

The Selangor FC winger suffered fourth-degree burns on his neck, shoulder, hands and chest in the attack at a shopping centre outside Kuala Lumpur on May 5.

Nicknamed “Mickey”, the popular 26-year-old spent three weeks in hospital and had multiple operations for the burns to his skin.

The burns on his arms and face following the acid attack by an unknown assailant had made it difficult for him to show affection to his son.

“I’m very close with my son. After this happened to me, I had to go more than a month of being unable to hug him,” said Faisal during a press conference at the Selangor Football Training Centre.

“It’s such a simple thing for a father to do, yet I could not. My child could not feel the love of his father. After I was discharged and returned home, I was still unable to hug him due to my wounds.

“It was only about four or five days ago when I could finally hug him.”

Speaking to journalists for the first time since the ordeal, a tearful Faisal said: “My hope is to return to the pitch in the next one to two months, even though the doctor says it could take up to six months.”

He added: “I am willing to return to training when doctors give me the green light.”

Scars were visible on the left side of his head and face. He also appeared underweight and his physical movements seemed slower.

A dozen burly bodyguards wearing black escorted the player into the press conference.

Faisal did not explain why, but said that “right now I am kept in a secret hideout” with his family, expressing hope “I can soon be free and no need to hide”.

Two people were arrested after the attack, but both were released without any charge. It is unclear what was behind the assault.

Pondered hanging up his boots

Faisal said his strength came from his family.

“At first, I considered going back to my home town and leaving football behind,” he added.

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

“But the team ensured me that my family will be taken care of, that made me determined to recover and get back on the pitch.”

Faisal’s case was the most serious and high-profile of a string of crimes against four top-flight Malaysian footballers in May.

The incidents are not believed to be linked.

Faisal is an established Malaysian international, whose equaliser against South Korea in January was voted the best goal at the Asian Cup.

“I miss football,” he said.

Malaysia’s domestic football season was scheduled to begin on May 10 with a curtain-raiser between Faisal’s Selangor and Super League champions Johor Darul Takzim.

Selangor pulled out citing “a series of criminal incidents and recent threats”, but the league got under way the following day under heavy security. AFP, THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK