'I hope he can be strong' - Azizulhasni extends support to Faisal Halim following acid attack
The Pocket Rocketman who met Faisal just a week before the unfortunate incident occurred, said he was shocked to hear the tragic news.
KUALA LUMPUR - As the sports community rallies around footballer Faisal Halim following the horrific acid attack that left him suffering from fourth-degree burns, fellow athlete and national cyclist hero Datuk Azizulhasni Awang has also extended some heartfelt words of advice and encouragement to the Selangor FC player.
Azizulhasni, affectionately known as The Pocket Rocketman who met Faisal just a week before the unfortunate incident occurred, said he was shocked to hear the tragic news.
“I met him at a Raya event, and he was in good spirits. We even played some games together,” said Azizulhasni when met at a roundtable session held at Nobu.
“I hope he can be strong. This is quite a rare case and I believe it happened for a reason. Allah wants to test him and make him better.
“Whatever test we face in this life, it transforms us to be better versions of ourselves. I’m pretty sure he is a very strong guy, I can see it from his character,” he said.
Azizulhasni said the top priority is to focus on healing properly and to make sure nothing will jeapordise his health.
He emphasised the importance of prioritising physical recovery and mental well-being before making a return to training.
The 36-year-old also reflected on his comeback journey following a life-threatening condition due to a rare heart condition known as Anomalous Aortic Origin of Right Coronary Artery (AAORCA).
With the risk of cardiac arrest and sudden death if not treated properly, he underwent a three-hour corrective surgery back in April 2022.
He shared the emotional toll it can take on the journey back to sports.
“My comeback was quite depressing. I had to heal first. When I healed and could function normally, only then I started thinking about training,” he said.
While the emotional journey can be as challenging as the physical one, having a network of loved ones can make all the difference.
“There will be times you will feel very down. But if you’re feeling depressed, speak to someone and reach out,” he added.
Earlier in a Sports Matters podcast by Sinar Daily, former Selangor FC manager Zakaria Rahim encouraged Faisal to draw strength from the recoveries of Azizulhasni as well as Brendan Gan who battled cancer.
On May 5, Fasial was reportedly attacked with acid by two individuals on motorcycles at a shopping centre in Petaling Jaya.
A few days before Faisal was attacked, another football player from Terengganu FC Akhyar Rashid was injured in a robbery outside his home.
Meanwhile, days after Faisal’s incident, Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) midfielder Safiq Rahim shared that his car’s rear windscreen was smashed after being confronted by two men in Johor Bahru.
After the attack on Faisal, the Malaysian Football Association recommended that players improve their security measures, proposing options like hiring bodyguards for those with the financial means.
Faisal has reportedly been discharged from the hospital but continues to attend follow-up appointments.
According to assessments and treatments by specialist doctors, Faisal's recovery has been positive, exceeding expectations. He currently placed in a secret location to undergo a full recovery process.
