KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 18 — Selangor FC star winger Faisal Halim admitted he needs more time to reach peak form, though he was in the starting 11 for the Sultan of Selangor Cup (TSSC) last night.
The player said he was not at his best when he featured in the first 45 minutes, but it was still a positive development and served as a benchmark for him to reassess his ability on the field.
“I feel the 45 minutes wasn’t my true game. Compared with my previous performances, I haven’t reached my maximum yet, and I still need time to get back to my best. I hope everyone can give me the space to do that.
“But, at least I can now feel what’s affecting me during the match. Although I fell and hurt my left hand (during the match), it’s nothing serious. It’s good progress for me and I feel more confident now. I want to focus on regaining my fitness and strength,” he said after the TSSC match at Merdeka Stadium here last night.
The Selangor Selection lifted the TSSC trophy for the third consecutive time after defeating the Singapore Selection 2-1.
Meanwhile, the 26-year-old Faisal said the Red Giants’ victory last night was just the tonic the team needed ahead of the FA Cup final on August 24.
“We’re in the FA Cup final, so there’s no holding back. We’ll give our best for Selangor’s supporters,” he said.
Faisal made his first public appearance on June 16 at the FA Cup match between Selangor FC and Negeri Sembilan FC.
On May 5, Faisal suffered fourth-degree burns after being splashed with acid by an unknown individual at a shopping centre in Petaling Jaya, which left him in intensive care for 10 days.
— Bernama
