Die-hard fan Akbar's special jersey for Young Lions
Die-hard fan Akbar designs special jersey for tonight's SEA Games opener
Expect a sea of red when Singapore take on the Philippines at Jalan Besar Stadium tonight.
Tickets for the Group A opener have been sold out and football fans are ready to roar for the Young Lions.
The match will be the hosts' first South-east Asia (SEA) Games match at home in 22 years and, to commemorate the special occasion, die-hard fan Akbar Hashim has printed a special jersey for like-minded supporters.
Akbar, 53, said: "I am doing this for the sake of boosting the team."
"(The jersey) is specially made for the SEA Games, to tell the players that we are here to support them and we want them to get a victory."
Akbar said his initial order of 200 jerseys have been sold out and he expects another 300 pieces to come in tomorrow.
Short-sleeved shirts are going for $25 each and long-sleeved ones for $30.
"It is an affordable and memorable T-shirt for fans to buy and wear to support the team," Akbar said.
Administrative assistant Rosminah Ahmad has already bought 20 jerseys for her extended family, all of whom will be attending the game today.
The 61-year-old has never missed a LionsXII game, home or away, since the team joined the Malaysian Super League in 2012 and the long-time national team supporter said buying the jerseys was just another way to show her support.
She said: "If (the Singapore team) play overseas, it's very difficult. Sometimes you don't know the country very well, so to go and support them is hard."
"Now that they're playing in Singapore, I definitely must go."
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