Welcome to the next edition of KitLegit’s Collectors Series Blog, where we travel the globe to meet passionate football shirt collectors. This time we’re heading to Jakarta, Indonesia, to meet Benito “Ben” Benyamin – a dedicated content creator and huge Liverpool fan whose love for football culture and stylish long-sleeve jerseys has built him a serious collection of 300-400 shirts. From the iconic 2005 Champions League Final to chasing rare Gerrard-era gems, Ben’s story is all about passion, persistence, and pure joy for the beautiful game.

The 2005 Miracle That Started It All

Ben’s collecting journey began on one unforgettable night in May 2005 — the Champions League Final between Liverpool and AC Milan. “I’m a huge Liverpool fan since that day,” he says. That dramatic comeback not only made him a Red forever, but also sparked his deep appreciation for football shirts. He especially loves long-sleeve jerseys because “it suits my style a lot.” Design comes first — if he likes the look, he’ll buy it, regardless of club or country.

The Crown Jewel: Gerrard’s 1998 Long Sleeve

Ask Ben about his favourite shirt and there’s no hesitation: the Liverpool Home 1998 Long Sleeve. “It was my favourite player’s debut day — Steven Gerrard.”

Even more special is his most valuable piece: the same 1998 Liverpool Home Long Sleeve, but this one is hand-signed by Steven Gerrard on the back. For a diehard Liverpool fan, it doesn’t get much better than that.

A Dedicated Red with a Global Eye

While Ben is now focusing mainly on Liverpool, his collection spans many clubs and nations. With 300-400 jerseys in total, he’s built an impressive archive driven by his twin loves of football culture and fashion. Long sleeves remain a constant favourite across his collection.

A Half-Day Flight for One Jersey

One of Ben’s most memorable experiences shows just how far he’ll go for the right shirt. He once flew from Jakarta to Yogyakarta for only half a day — just to buy a Liverpool 1998 Home Match Worn Long Sleeve with Emile Heskey’s name on the back for a YouTube video. “It was a very tiring day, but that was one of the most memorable stories ever. It was fun.”

Hunting, Community & Staying Safe

Sourcing shirts in Indonesia comes with challenges. “The challenges is hunting the jerseys. You must search and be careful of scammers at social media,” Ben explains. His tips for new collectors are practical and heartfelt:

• Watch out for scammers

• Join jersey communities

• Don’t be shy to ask — the seniors will educate you (he’s been helped a lot by them)

For authentication, he usually asks trusted authenticators. If he ever gets a fake? “That’s okay, it reminds me to be more careful.”

Simple but Effective Preservation

Ben keeps his collection in great shape by hanging every jersey on wooden hangers, making sure to leave enough space between them so they don’t stick together.

His Honest Advice

When asked for advice to new collectors, Ben keeps it real and relaxed: “I’m not that expert on giving advice, so just feel free and enjoy hunting your passion on jersey collections.”

From Istanbul 2005 to Jakarta

Benito “Ben” Benyamin proves that true passion knows no borders. From falling in love with Liverpool during the Miracle of Istanbul to flying across Indonesia for a single Heskey shirt, his 300-400 strong collection is a celebration of football culture, style, and long-sleeve love.

Follow his journey and content: Instagram: @beny.ball & @bb.jerseycollection TikTok: @beny.ball

That’s another incredible story in the Collectors Series! Got your own collection you’d like featured? Drop us a message. In the meantime, head to KitLegit for trusted authentication and authentic kits. What’s your favourite long-sleeve jersey of all time? Let us know in the comments! ⚽