IT WAS 4am.

Shahril Ishak woke up in cold sweat, clutching his tightening chest as he gasped for breath.

It was the beginning of a three-month-long battle with illness, during which he feared his football career would be over.

Shahril was expecting the worst in August.

Just days before, he had achieved a milestone when he played for the Singapore selection side against the Brazil Olympic team at the National Stadium.

For Shahril, who doesn't have a history of illness and couldn't even recall the last time he had a minor ailment, the pain was as baffling as it was frightening.

'I was very worried,' said Shahril as he shook his head, eyebrows furrowed.

'I didn't know what was happening. The pain would suddenly hit me for a few minutes at a time.'

The next day, he asked for advice from the Home United physiotherapist, who offered to refer him to a doctor.

But Shahril, in fear and denial, refused.

The following week was hell.

The chest pains became increasingly acute and frequent, and the breathing problems went from bad to worse.

So he finally went to a doctor.

His condition was diagnosed as a lung infection.

During the two days he spent at Changi Hospital, his mind wandered.

He said: 'It was a really difficult time for me. I asked myself many questions, like, would I be able to continue with my career? Would I play football again for Home United? Would I ever play again for the national team?'

He vividly remembers the time his team-mates and coaches visited him at the hospital, offering him consolation and encouragement.

Tears of gratitude

Their kindness mattered a lot to him. Shahril couldn't help but shed tears of gratitude.

Said the 24-year-old midfielder: 'My team-mates and coaches cared about me and wanted me to get well.

'My fiancee Hidayah was also behind me all the way.

'They were motivating me to pick myself up. And I just couldn't give up.

'I told myself that I have to come back stronger than before.'

Come back he did. And quickly, too.

For three months, Shahril was under medication.

It took him just two months to return to the field and play for Home United.

But even before that, Shahril was working out by himself, taking 30-minute daily jogs in the park despite the pain.

The mental torture of seeing his team-mates play football while he sat in the stands was hard to bear.

He said: 'It was difficult, the recovery process. I had to watch them play football while I couldn't even train for close to two months.

'I didn't want to give up. I decided to do some running on my own.

'It was difficult, but it was better than staying home doing nothing. And I didn't want my fitness to deteriorate. I wanted to be ready for football as soon as I could.'

Until now, he could not be sure how the lung infection came about.

What he is sure, however, is that it taught him that nothing in life can be taken for granted.

He said: 'I feel that I have returned as a stronger player. That's important.

'I now know what it's like to have football taken away from me.'

GARY LIM will be in Hanoi to report on the Vietnam v Singapore clash. Look out for his reports from tomorrow.