Ishaq Ismail has balls — plenty of them. The South African of Indian origin has put together an enviable collection of more than 200 footballs at his Sandton home in Johannesburg.
“I have every Fifa World Cup match ball from 1970 onwards besides all balls used in Champions League finals,” the 31-year-old businessman told this paper.
What started as a hobby during Euro 2004 has grown into a passion for Ishaq, who has become a celebrity in his neighbourhood during the World Cup. He was recently featured on the front page of Sandton Chronicle.
“My collection officially started during Euro 2004. I had just returned from a trip to East Asia and the hype about the tournament got me going. As a football lover, I have always had a fascination for balls used in different tournaments worldwide,” he adds.
Ishaq says his hobby is expensive. “I spend a lot to collect authentic balls. For instance, Jabulani, the official ball of the 2010 World Cup, came with a price tag of $150. I can’t wait to add Jobulani (the special name has a reference to the venue, Johannesburg), the ball which will be used in the final, to my collection,” informs the amatuer footballer.
Which is his favourite among his 200-odd spherical pets? It has to be the first — a black and white Champions League final ball. “It was love at first sight,” he laughs.
Ishaq says he will never get tired of scouring the world to embellish his collection. “Even though I have an exhaustive collection, I will continue to look out for footballs from events such as the World Cup and the Champions League,” he adds.
Space and support from his family members are critical for Ishaq’s unique hobby.
“The ever growing number of balls gets to my father occasionally. But he has realised that nothing can stop me! I have to thank my family members for their support. I’m especially indebted to my lovely nephews, Aadil and Uzair. The young duo love my collection as much as I do,” he says.