IT’S HOW YOU PLAY THE GAME 

Talking to the Lantau Losers is a bit like herding cats. Though not as wilful as your average house cat, and they certainly don’t marginalise your existence, there’s an obvious – and ironclad – bond among the pick-up football team, comprised largely of pilots, that can easily send it into its own private metaverse. The chatter at Ouzo in Tung Chung, just a few minutes from the pitch they just left, is constant. They cut each other off and finish each other’s sentences, take the piss and fly off on tangents. There are in-jokes, industry smack-talk. But somehow guests aren’t made to feel like outsiders. Which is kind of the point.

It’s a sweltering morning, and this day’s stragglers – as in anyone not rushing off to work – are a diverse bunch, and the Losers wouldn’t have it any other way. Parked mid-table are de facto founders South African Justin Krause and ex- British Air Force pilot Matthew Griffiths, who at 39 and in Hong Kong for 10 years, refers to himself as the “old guy” who’s “easily injured”.

Flanking them are quiet Australian Andy, and Zimbabwean Philip, the Losers’ longest Hong Kong resident besides Matthew at 12 years. There’s Val from France, and Joost, the Dutchman, who’s just hanging out, having torn a ligament a few weeks earlier. “He tore it by going to kick the ball – and missing it,” cackles Matthew, getting a chuckle all around. Last but not least is 23-year-old Bati, a Turk, born and raised in Germany – who is not a pilot; he’s fresh out of hospitality school and into a gig at a five-star hotel. He’s also the only one of this lot not living on Lantau. He’s relocating to Tung Chung in a few weeks, though.

Most of the Losers live on Lantau because of its proximity to the airport, but as Bati’s looming move demonstrates, they’d probably be there anyway. Admittedly the Tung Chung area didn’t hold much appeal a decade ago, especially for young, single, frequent travellers interested in having fun. But ultimately prices start to matter, kids happen and tastes change. “People started moving here. Now there’s plenty of stuff to do,” argues Matthew.

Philip sums it up best when he says, “It’s actually just a great place to live – and I lived in the city for six years. It’s separated from the business; the community here is incredible, and when you walk around you bump into people you know. There’s a sense of peace. And Tung Chung’s actually a really beautiful place.”

RELAXED AND SOCIAL

The initial idea behind the Lantau Losers was to provide incoming airline staff, usually with Cathay Pacific, another way to break the ice, make some new connections and not feel so isolated. Justin, Matthew and Gary Kolk (not around today) started actively recruiting friends – and strangers – into the Losers in 2019, quickly growing the WhatsApp group to nearly 100 participants, largely by word-of-mouth.

“Just before COVID, there was us and another group that played separately but used the same pitch. I played with them a couple of times but they were super-serious,” recalls Justin. “Our idea is to keep this as casual, and chill and sociable as possible. You can be a player of any quality and still have fun. Ironically the quality of the play has gone up even though we’ve stayed relaxed.”

Unsurprisingly, COVID-time mask mandates, social distancing rules, fears of breaking the law and stints at Penny’s Bay posed challenges, but the fact the team’s still together is a testament to its therapeutic effect over the past few years.

Relaxed and social remain the key words. The Lantau Losers get together for seven-a-side matches twice a week (maybe just once during peak summer heat) at 9.30am at Man Tung Football Pitch. Justin is generally in charge of booking the pitch and collecting “fees” from the team – HK$100 each month or thereabouts to slap on an Octopus card for LCSD rentals – for the American football-scoring games. Matches have been known to end 10-8.

“Losers was my idea. It all started with a glass of Red Horse beer. Write that down,” Matthew notes cheekily. The team shirts indeed sport a red horse, but “losers” also carried an accessible, irreverent message in line with the team’s raison d’être. “And if we play someone else the other team thinks we’re terrible. Then we’re terrible,” Matthew cracks. Everyone’s a goalkeeper. There are no fixed positions. The Losers are The Full Monty of Lantau football clubs.

All that being said, Matthew admits he wasn’t interested in joining the Losers at first, having previously dabbled with a more corporate team. He found it far too competitive for what was essentially a beer league. “This isn’t like that,” he says. “This is about friendship and camaraderie. No one is going to shout at you for messing up. It’s about having some fun.” Joost agrees, recalling his own experiences with more polished squads. “Guys were taking dives and rolling around on the field and it was just frustrating. So the Losers is a breath of fresh air that way. Everyone’s thrilled when someone scores a goal. We’re trying to win, but no one’s out to injure anyone.”

At this point Bati starts packing up, but before heading to work he takes a second to concur as the rookie of the bunch. “I really appreciate these guys. I’ve been here six months so I don’t really know that many people in Hong Kong yet,” he says. “These are some of my best friends now. It’s unfortunate we don’t play more.” Needless to say, that’s met with a chorus of good-natured indignation led by Matthew. “Some of your best friends?” he huffs.

THE LOSERS WANT YOU!

Justin and Matthew mean it when they say anyone can join the Losers. They’re not looking for Bundesliga skills, or even newcomers to the city; they’re looking for people who want to have fun and make friends. “At this point we’re open to anyone joining us,” adds Joost. (Find the Losers on Instagram @lantau_losers.)

“We’ve had guys join us that have never played, and would never consider playing football. There’s one guy, a bit on the small side, he’s elderly, I don’t know, about 45…” starts Justin. There’s a break to rib him about calling 45 elderly, but he pushes on. “He’s by far our most improved player. He messages every so often to thank me for “letting” him play and to say how much he loves it. That kind of thing is really great to hear.”

Philip agrees, explaining how lunch at Ouzo is a matchday highlight, and that everyone went to Justin’s recent wedding. As the singleton with a current PlayStation, Philip is the resident game centre and frequent babysitter. He doesn’t seem to mind. “Can we talk about mascots?” he queries, referring to the kinds of supporters who regularly show up on the sidelines, like Matthew’s three-year-old daughter Georgia – “A delight, always down here having beers with us. A proper legend.”

Does anyone think the Lantau Losers has a shelf life? Not really. “I don’t see an end,” says Matthew. “We have more and more local people joining, and people who aren’t associated with flying.” Finishes Philip: “As long as people love football and love community, there will be Losers.”