Réunion

 

Unknown Player
vs. Mayotte (0:0) | Indian Ocean Island Games | 2023 in Madagascar

FINALLY! Finally, I got a shirt of La Reunion! The last CAF member I was missing! While the French colony in the Indian Ocean is not a full FIFA member, they are a full member of CAF. Along with Zanzibar, they are the only state holding that status. The shirt is made by Label Sports, a small local sports company in Saint-Denis, the capital of La Réunion and it did come to me via Luke, who has a fantastic collection himself (check out his instagram account!).

I was looking for a La Réunion for absolute ages, but without any luck, really. And I genuinely turned every stone for almost decade, as I do have a special relation to the French colony: I have been here for summer holidays twice, doing a three weeks roadtrip around the island on both occassions! I was only 12 and 14 years old when visiting the island, but I do have very fond memories of it, as it was arguably the best holiday of my childhood. If you ever have the chance to get out La Réunion, don't think twice: It is an absolute paradise! 

The shirt itself is quite cool, too. I love the new Reunion FA badge, featuring a very low-resolution map of the island, even indicating a few cities. I also love that it does feature the inofficial flag and not the official flag - which is just the French flag. So overall, an absolutely incredible addition to the collection for me and one more that I do own Luke for. Thanks, mate!