For the new generation of Hong Kong football fans, striker Matthew Orr, is their new talisman. Orr’s total commitment and passion are a huge part of the success behind one of the strongest men’s football teams in Hong Kong sporting history.
Matthew Orr’s rise has coincided with Hong Kong’s most memorable footballing moments including the men’s under 23 team’s run to the Asian games 2022 semi-finals and placing in a decent showing at the recent Asian Cup 2023 (2024) held in Qatar.
A new generation of players spearheaded by Orr are forging the path forward for the domestic game.
Each win or positive result has been laying the groundwork for the next generation to follow in the future and this forward momentum has slowly released the ‘shackles’ that have hindered the domestic Hong Kong game for decades.
Orr’s footballing journey has now taken him to the pastures of the Chinese Super League where he now plies his trade with Shenzhen Peng City (Currently 13th) and here, Orr is currently forging an even bigger name for himself.
In an exclusive interview, Orr, took time out to discuss Asian Cup qualifiers, food and nutrition for top athletes, the magnificence of Mehdi Taremi and defeating Iran whilst also getting tired of playing Iran!
Asian Cup Qualification – Saudi Arabia 2027
Hong Kong recently drew 0-0 with Singapore away in their opening Group C Asian Cup qualifier. The stakes are high as only the group winner will qualify for the finals and with India being a solid team and Bangladesh improving, Orr is under no illusions on how competitive this group will be.
Orr stressed Singapore played extremely well and deserved the result.
“First and foremost, I think credit to Singapore as they know they played better than we (Hong Kong) probably thought they did in their previous games against Nepal when Singapore didn’t look as good as they were against us.
Obviously we (Hong Kong) were coming off quite a few wins on the bounce and we were pretty confident. In that first half against Singapore, we (Hong Kong) came out extremely, extremely flat. There was a big lack of energy, and we under-performed by quite a lot.
I think the second half was better but we fortunately came out against Singapore with a draw.
I think on the night, Hong Kong were lucky, but I think Hong Kong always knew this was going to be a tough and a tight group though we definitely felt like, if we play to what we are capable of, there’s a big chance that Hong Kong can win the group.
We’re still comfortable and confident that we can do that. There’s a long way to go!
Obviously, the India versus Bangladesh result was a positive result for us so it’s all to play for in the group!”
Hong Kong did have a few chances against Singapore and Orr’s second half header could have made all the difference.
“Yes, I thought that header was going in! I turned around ready to celebrate! That was unfortunate, but to be honest, Singapore had the better chances.
Through the run of play, I think Singapore probably deserved to win. We will take the draw!”
Football Without Fans is Nothing
Photo: Matthew Orr
In the last five years, Hong Kong football culture has evolved significantly and Hong Kong home games increasingly have a carnival-like atmosphere. Hardcore fans are taking this passion overseas as they follow the Hong Kong team over land, sea and air.
Around 500 to 600 Hong Kong football fans traveled to Singapore for the recent qualifier and expect the number of away fans to grow even higher in coming years.
Orr stresses that, as a collective, the 12th man / woman / child, really brings the energy and passion and that the team really thrives off the intensity.
“I have always said, football without fans is nothing whether or not you’re playing home or away. If you are away then games can be tough, especially because a lot of the time across Asia, a lot of the countries get quite big crowds and the atmospheres can be quite hostile.”
Away games can be tricky so fan support is vital.
“When you are going out there as a team squad of 20 to 25; you are kind of all you’ve got so you just rely on yourselves for that energy. When you can see that you have got a group of Hong Kong supporters in the crowd wearing red, singing and chanting and pushing you and the team on; it definitely brings extra energy and extra motivation to go and try and fight for ourselves and fight for the Hong Kong fans as well.
At home, you know the home crowd speaks for themselves! Yes, it definitely gives us a big push on the pitch!”
A New Generation of Fans
From banners to endlessly doing the Poznan, the evolution of Hong Kong fan culture in such a short period of time has been nothing short of remarkable.
In the past, the atmosphere used to be much more negative; some would say toxic; though times have changed and positivity is seen as the way forward.
“The new Hong Kong fan culture is great to see and it is good that fan culture in Hong Kong is growing.
I think previously when you went to games, there could sometimes be negative energy from the crowd, which in hindsight, doesn’t actually help the team.”
Hong Kong fans and their support really makes a significant difference.
“Now you know that the fans are truly there to support us; we (HK players) are playing for them and representing Hong Kong and trying our best to win.
In recent games, I really felt like the energy from the crowd was very positive, and they are always behind us and supporting us; no matter the result or how the game is going.
The squad are all for it and obviously we really appreciate the support from the fans always! We hope that it can continue and we can keep delivering big results for the fans!”
Following Hong Kong Around the World
Orr paid tribute to the die-hard fans who travel all around the world at great time and financial expense. Each country and club has fans like these and Hong Kong is no exception.
“There’s definitely a core of 10, maybe 10 to 20, hard-core Hong Kong ultras. I would say that we (HK team) definitely recognize these fans at an away game at hotels and it is a crazy level of passion in a great sense!
To be fair, some of them have traveled away to Uzbekistan and to Iran. I don’t even know how the Hong Kong fans travel to those countries but they always find a way!
Massive, massive credit and respect and admiration for those hard-core fans.”
Parental Support and New Zealand
Orr cites his mother, father and family support for giving him the foundation to launch his flourishing sports career.
“My father played for New Zealand. He was a professional in New Zealand prior to moving to Hong Kong so for sure, he was my biggest role model and influence as to why I started playing football and why I pursued that dream and the career of playing football professionally.
My father and my mother have always been my biggest supporters. My parents have been through the journey with me since day one. Definitely my Dad would be my biggest influence on football.”
If New Zealand Then Why Not Hong Kong?
Hong Kong like Iceland, Denmark, Uruguay, New Zealand, Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia and Wales have small populations though this has not stopped all these nations from qualifying for World Cup(s).
What is holding back Hong Kong from achieving similar lofty heights?
Orr weighed into the debate and offered his well-placed insight.
“I think what we have achieved in the last two years with Hong Kong has been the best results in Hong Kong history!
This includes the Asian games semi-final for the first time ever, and then qualifying for the Asian Cup, not on home soil, for the first time ever.
Results wise, I think you could argue that what we have achieved is going in the right direction. However, I still think there’s a long way to go to ever achieve that World Cup status.
There’s so much development that needs to happen in terms of the youth systems in Hong Kong, evolving the domestic professional league in Hong Kong and enhancing the resources available to professional football.
There is so much that needs to happen to Hong Kong football to even think about the World Cup dream!
I think for us right now, the Asian Cup, for us is kind of like the World Cup, so that’s what we’re fighting for right now.
I think Hong Kong football just needs to focus on working as a collective with everyone being on the same team, having the same mission and striving towards the same goals.
I think that’s the most important thing for Hong Kong football right now, and trying to figure out a way to really improve the domestic league and youth football in Hong Kong as well, so we can start producing consistent young players. I would say those would be the main things for Hong Kong football to focus on. ”
The Asian Cup Experience
The Asian Cup in Qatar showed that Hong Kong could match the best in Asia and Orr said that the sense of occasion and organization was on another level which Hong Kong should strive for.
“I think that whole experience just to go and be at a tournament – The pinnacle of Asian Football! To go and compete with the best 24 teams in Asia was a real eye-opener for the players, especially just being there in an environment where you just have the best of everything and it gave us a taste of what it feels like to be at the top.
I think it shows just a massive, massive motivation to try and get back there for the next Asian Cup.”
You are What You Eat
To keep at the top of his game, Orr takes his health and fitness extremely seriously. Sports science has moved on from the old days of half-time oranges and maybe not drinking ten pints of beer before a game.
Now, top players such as Erland Haaland and CR7 – Ronaldo, have their food and drink consumption down to a tee and everything is carefully measured.
Does Orr eat 6000 calories a day and consume liver and a cow’s heart like Erland Harland?
Does Orr, like Ronaldo, nap five or six times a day in his own hyperbaric oxygen therapy machine?
Pure Encapsulations Supplements
Orr takes daily supplements like Pure Encapsulations and generally controls his diet in the best way possible; by cooking for himself as a way to relax and de-stress.
“I definitely take daily supplements. I have just started working with Denise Tam and Pure Encapsulations, and they help me a lot with what I should be taking everyday.
Everyone’s body is different and how they respond to different foods and diets and it is more individual on how you optimize what diet you follow or what you eat. This makes you feel great and ends up letting you perform the best on the pitch.”
Orr is very specific about his food and drink intake.
“I think that your own sporting performance ultimately is your kind of guidance as to what diet works best for you, but for me personally, I definitely eat very clean.
I don’t have any sugar in my diet and I only drink water and tea. In terms of food, it’s just protein, vegetables and carbs. I try to stay away from fried stuff.
Basically lots of fruit and vegetables and then protein, and then just a bit of carbohydrates. I think it’s pretty simple. It’s pretty boring, but it seems to work and it’s pretty repetitive.
I do a lot of cooking most of the time, just because I am able to control what I put into the cooking and what I put in myself. I enjoy cooking sometimes just to relax and de-stress and I just enjoy what I’m doing.”
The Best Memory – Defeating Iran and Being Bored of Iran
Orr cites defeating Iran in the Asian games 2022 in Hangzhou as his favorite moment in his career so far.
“That was incredible and probably the biggest highlight I’ve had on the football pitch with a team, especially with Hong Kong.
There’s a lot of pride and a lot of responsibility when you are wearing a Hong Kong team shirt! When you achieve something really big and make history, you’ll always be remembered with the boys you shared those moments with on the pitch.
I think defeating Iran was very special though I think we’re all pretty bored of playing against Iran!
Iran does have a top striker in Mehdi Taremi and I’ve had the privilege of playing against him and he scored many goals against us. When I play against teams like Iran and players like Taremi, I pay a lot of attention to how they play and how they move. I’ve had the privilege to change jerseys with him as well.”
A generation of players and a new generation of fans all heading in the right direction. Matthew Orr is leading the charge to help gain results on the pitch and change the culture off it.
For More on Pure Encapsulations – https://www.pureencapsulations.hk/
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More on Denise Tam and Food for Life Below
Interview with Denise Tam: https://www.offside.hk/interview/denise-tam-certified-holistic-nutritionist-for-peak-football-performance-it-is-not-just-about-what-you-eat-but-the-source-and-quality-of-what-you-eat-is-equally-important/
https://foodforlifehk.com/ – Food for Life
hello@foodforlifehk.com – To Contact Denise Tam
A huge thank you to Denise Tam!
