KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 13 — National winger Muhammad Faisal Abdul Halim said he is grateful and delighted after finally ending his two-year goal drought.
He shared these sentiments ahead of Malaysia's Group F match in the 2027 Asian Cup Qualifiers against Laos, which will take place tomorrow night at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil.
The Selangor FC player, who found the back of the net for Harimau Malaya for the first time in almost two years during the 3-0 win over Laos on Thursday (October 9), said it was a new beginning in his career with the national squad.
Faisal, affectionately known as 'Mickey', said this accomplishment came from hard work and teammates' encouragement, who supported him throughout his recovery and efforts to regain peak form.
"Alhamdulillah (God be praised), after 623 days without scoring, almost two years, I finally managed to score again for the national team. I am thrilled that the coach allowed me to prove my abilities, and I worked hard to make the most of it.
"I have worked hard to reach my goals and regain my form. I am grateful to all my teammates who have always supported and motivated me," he said during the pre-match press conference ahead of Malaysia's clash with Laos today.
The 26-year-old said his recent goal was not the end but rather the start of a new chapter in his journey to continue contributing to Harimau Malaya.
"What I can say is that this is not the end, this is a new beginning for me to keep fighting alongside the national team," Faisal said.
Faisal, who came on as a substitute in the match against Laos on Thursday, sealed Malaysia's 3-0 victory under coach Peter Cklamovski with a goal in second-half injury time.
Malaysia, which currently tops Group F with nine points after three matches, will face Laos again tomorrow in their bid to maintain a perfect qualifying record.
In the team standings, Malaysia is followed by Vietnam in second place with six points, Laos in third (three points), and Nepal at the bottom with nil points.
