‘Don't give up, look to Azizulhasni and Brendan Gan for inspiration’ - Zack Rahim
The best inspiration for Faisal Halim should be national cyclist Azizulhasni Awang and Harimau Malaya midfielder Brendan Gan, both of whom recovered from life-threatening conditions.
SHAH ALAM - Former Selangor manager Zakaria Rahim has offered words of encouragement to Malaysian winger Faisal Halim, urging him to draw strength from the recoveries of fellow athletes Azizulhasni Awang and Brendan Gan.
According to Zakaria, better known as Zack Rahim, the best inspiration for Faisal should be national cyclist Azizulhasni Awang and Harimau Malaya midfielder Brendan Gan, both of whom recovered from life-threatening conditions.
“To Faisal, look to Azizulhasni Awang and your teammate Brendan Gan for inspiration.
“Brendan overcame cancer, a life-threatening condition, and Azizulhasni recovered from a serious heart problem. Both made incredible comebacks, and you can too,” he said during Sinar Daily's Sports Matters podcast recently.
Zack said that when he first studied Faisal’s case and spoke to the doctor treating him, it sounded daunting because fourth-degree burns are severe, affecting vital organs like the kidneys, heart, and lungs.
“My daughter, a medical student, and her top-performing peers confirmed the difficulty of such burns.
"Initially, I thought his career was over. However, seeing his current progress, he is eating, walking and talking about football, it gives us hope.
“At 26-years-old, he is in his peak years, but time is crucial as the competition is fierce, with many ready to take his place.
“Faisal must work very hard to fully recover and return to being the player he was before the incident. That is what we all want to see,” he said.
On May 5, Faisal endured a horrific acid attack at a shopping mall in Petaling Jaya, leaving him with severe burns on multiple parts of his body, including his face.
Following numerous surgeries, he is reportedly responding well to skin graft procedures.
Two individuals were apprehended in connection with the incident but have since been released on police bail.
Two days after Faisal's attack, on May 7, former Harimau Malaya captain Safiq Rahim had his car windshield vandalised by unidentified perpetrators.
On May 22, another local footballer became the latest victim in the escalating series of attacks on Malaysian footballers that began in early May.
Selangor FC defender Ahmad Khuzaimi Piee reported a burglary at his home, resulting in the theft of a Yamaha Y15r motorcycle valued at RM15,000, four branded sling bags, and a passport.
