However destiny conspired to vary his outlook on life and a profession that was blossoming, having began out at 17 with dwelling state workforce Penang and flourished with a 2023 transfer to Selangor.
Burns to his face, neck, shoulders, palms and chest after the assault impeded Faisal’s speech and mobility, that means he didn’t contact a soccer for greater than two months.
“Each second, I might get flashbacks,” he recollects of his time in hospital. “It was very tough and I used to be mentally down, my morale was very low.
“Many issues have modified. I can not smile correctly now.
“There have been occasions once I thought of not enjoying soccer any extra out of worry. However I acquired lots of calls and messages daily. I couldn’t maintain the telephone whereas within the hospital, so my spouse used to learn out all of the messages from the followers.
“The entire of Malaysia prayed for me. It gave me extra braveness to play once more.”
In July 2024, Faisal started a month of restoration and private coaching with Selangor earlier than making the bench the next month in a Malaysian FA Cup semi-final tie – precisely 90 days after the traumatic incident.
Returning to motion has not been with out its struggles.
Gone are the times when he was the primary title on the Selangor and Malaysia teamsheet, however Faisal believes the difficult occasions at the moment are behind him.
“I simply need to play,” he says. “I’m assured, regular and 100%. I’m able to play. I simply need extra time on the pitch.”
Faisal’s spirited comeback story is one in every of inspiration, says Selangor’s head coach Katsuhito Kinoshi.
“What Faisal must do is present his constructive and unbreakable mentality to our followers and Malaysian soccer,” he provides.
“He’s somebody who has the ability to maneuver followers, not solely on the pitch but in addition off it.”
