PETALING JAYA: Harimau Malaya coach Kim Pan Gon struggled to control his emotions while touching on the moment he saw acid-attack victim Faisal lying on the hospital bed in Shah Alam recently.
During the first day of centralised training at Wisma FAM here, Pan Gon faced the media, answering questions about winger Faisal.
"It's a difficult memory," he admitted.
"To see him like that, in such pain... I couldn't bear to look, couldn't find the words to speak."
Faisal was attacked at a shopping mall here on May 5, suffering acid burns to several parts of his body, including his face.
Moved by Faisal's ordeal and other incidents involving players like Akhyar Rashid and Khuzaimi Piee, Pan Gon has chosen to take a stand.
Clad in a simple blue t-shirt bearing the poignant message, "There is no hate in football. Unite as one," he spoke out against the recent attacks on footballers.
"Football should be a sanctuary. A place of joy and camaraderie, not fear and violence. We must shield our players, our treasures, from harm," said Pan Gon.
Harimau Malaya will be depleted in the absence of several players, including Faisal, when they face Kyrgyzstan and Taiwan in the World Cup qualifiers next month.
"We may be depleted, but we are not defeated. With every setback, we grow stronger. We will rise, we will fight, for the honour of Malaysia," said Pan Gon.