Football: Missing Mickey like crazy

PETALING JAYA: Selangor winger Alvin Fortes is finally belting out the right tunes with his displays but says his football band is missing one man – Faisal Halim.

Fortes knows the presence of Faisal would have made it even better. The striker is showing positive recovery following an acid attack by an unknown assailant last month.

Fortes, who started the first two Super League games without scoring a goal, impressed in his team’s 4-0 rout of Negri Sembilan in the FA Cup last 16 with a brace at the Petaling Jaya Stadium on June 15.

The 30-year-old was superb on the right flank with his dribbling and left-footed shots, but he hopes for Faisal’s return to make a bigger impact.

“It’s our prayer for Faisal to return quickly. It was good to see him at the stadium when we played in the FA Cup,” said the former Ratchaburi player.

“It was nice to be on the scoresheet.

“He is a nice guy. When I first joined Selangor, he was the one who made me comfortable with his warmth and humour. I know for him to feel even better, he needs to be on the field again.

“I can’t wait to see him again.”

While he waits for Faisal’s return, Fortes will be out to bring his A-game again when the Red Giants take on Perak in the Super League at the Petaling Jaya Stadium today.

Perak won their last league game against Kedah, beating them 2-0 but in the FA Cup, they were booted out in the last 16 after losing 1-2 to Terengganu.

“It has taken me a while to adapt to the league here, but now that I’ve scored two goals, I hope to keep it coming,” said Fortes.

“Perak are a wounded lot after their recent FA Cup defeat. They are an organised team, especially in the game against Kedah. They were good defensively and relied on counters.

“But we are the Red Giants and we always look for a win.”

Selangor are fourth in the league with six points from three matches, while Perak are eighth with three points.

If Fortes continues to waltz past defenders with his trickery and pace, expect the home side to record their third straight win in the league as a continuous gift for Faisal.