PETALING JAYA: Two years after a life-altering assault, footballer Faisal Halim is choosing resilience over despair as he prepares to lead Selangor into a crucial regional showdown.

The pint-sized winger is determined to deliver a standout performance for the Red Giants when they face Vietnamese club Nam Dinh in the Shopee Asean Club Championships semi-final first leg at the Petaling Jaya Stadium on Wednesday (May 6).