Sabah forever, with 100 jerseys in the locker

LAHAD DATU, Oct 28 -- Being an ardent fan of football since his schooling days, Isnain Rabaha has done whatever it takes to own more than 100 jerseys of his home state team, Sabah.

For the past 19 years, Isnain, 39, who teaches at SK Lahad Datu 2, has spent thousands of ringgit to purchase the jerseys either online, at sports shops or from individuals.

He said the collection includes original team jerseys from as far back as 1979.

"This hobby of collecting jerseys gives me a sense of satisfaction. For the latest Sabah jerseys, I will get all three kits (red, blue and white). I will buy them early online. I will not wait for the discount because I am afraid that the size I want will be sold out.

"Apart from Sabah, I also collect jerseys of the Malaysian team, and as for other states, I wait for a good discount before purchasing them. I consider it a bonus if I manage to get them," he said when met at his residence in Palm Height near here.

Isnain said there was one Sabah jersey he cherished the most, as it had been autographed by former Sabah player Matlan Marjan.

"I got to meet Matlan in 2017, and I didn’t miss the opportunity to ask for his autograph," he said, adding it was one of the most beautiful moments of his life.

He said among the challenges he faced in collecting jerseys was the difficulty to get hold of the older jerseys, with the ones available either too expensive, or not in pristine condition.

"The older jerseys are of high value, I received an offer for an old jersey for RM700, but I declined to sell it.

"To preserve the quality of the jerseys, I keep each one in a small box without folding them so that they are not attacked by termites, besides ensuring the colour of the shirt does not fade," he added.

Isnain also recalled a time he was cheated when making a deal to purchase a Sabah jersey.

"We had made an agreement, I paid for the jersey, and unfortunately, the individual went off the radar and my money was lost.

"I was a little disappointed, but nevermind, I believe it was not meant for me to get the jersey," he said, adding that following the incident, he was gifted a jersey from another former Sabah player.

Isnain is also grateful that his wife fully supports him in pursuing his hobby.

"Aside from my family, my friends who share a similar interest are also part of the Sabah Jersey Collectors’ (KJS) club," he said.

Meanwhile, Isnain hoped that the Sabah FA could provide tickets to hardcore Sabah fans at a discounted price.

"For example, those of us in KJS are all supporters of the Sabah football team, we are also the ones who always go to the stadium to watch the state’s team play," he said

He also requested for the ban on bringing drums into the stadium to be reviewed, as he believed it could help boost the players’ morale.

He finally proposed for the Sabah Youth and Sports Ministry to provide KJS with a platform to showcase their jersey collections to other fans.

"If there is an event, maybe they can invite KJS, provide us with some floor space so we can exhibit the jerseys. This is for Sabah football," he said.

-- BERNAMA