Prague Raptors: The Expat Football Team Breaking Down Barriers

Meet Prague Raptors, the expat football team bringing together players from around the world and breaking down cultural barriers in the Czech Republic.

On a chilly winter evening in the Czech Republic, a peculiar scene unfolded. A group of enthusiastic fans chanted “United, United” after their team's 3-0 victory. However, this wasn't Manchester United; instead, it was FC United of Manchester, a fan-owned club established in 2005 as a protest against the Glazer family's ownership of Manchester United. The twist came when the fans began chanting “Let's go Raptors, let's go” in support of their opponents, Prague Raptors, a rising force in Czech football.

Prague Raptors, named after the dinosaur, have an unusual partnership with kangaroos and harbor ambitious plans to compete with Europe's top teams. Their ideology emphasizes inclusivity, setting them apart from traditional football clubs. To learn more about this intriguing team, visited Malesice, a football outpost in Prague, where the Prague Raptors Women's B team was set to play. The gloomy Saturday morning atmosphere was lifted by the presence of club owner Daz Moss, a UK-based marketing specialist who has called Prague home for nearly a decade.

Moss arrived at the game just before kickoff, sporting a branded jacket and chatting with the coach before taking his place behind the barriers. As the owner of the Prague Raptors, Moss's day was far from over. He would attend three more games across the club's various teams, showcasing the scope of his ambitious project. Managing the vast Raptors empire is a daunting task, especially considering it's essentially a “family hobby” for Moss.

Daz Moss, the owner of Prague Raptors, humorously reflected on the club's rapid growth, saying, “There was a time I knew everyone's name and everybody's nationality, but I gave up on that a while ago.” This lighthearted comment belies the remarkable journey of the club, which began with a casual remark from Moss's son seven years ago. The son's question, “Why can't we have our own football team?” sparked an idea that has since evolved into a massive undertaking, with 15 teams and over 200 players.

The Prague Raptors' origins are rooted in the local amateur league, where they started with a single men's team. The club has since expanded, driven by the large expat community in the Czech capital. Interestingly, it is now the women's team that is poised to take center stage. A significant development in this regard was the partnership signed with Czech top-flight side Bohemians 1905 in the summer of 2024. This collaboration has created a mutually beneficial arrangement, with Bohemians gaining a women's network and the Raptors increasing their visibility.

Moss revealed that the partnership with Bohemians 1905 was unexpected, stating, “It was a surprise to us. There wasn't a connection between the clubs really. We had spoken to Bohemians once before, but that was several years ago.” He explained that the Czech Republic's women's football landscape is unique, with some clubs being run by external entities, effectively operating as franchises. This was the case with Bohemians 1905, and the partnership has enabled the Raptors to tap into this existing infrastructure.

Daz Moss, the owner of Prague Raptors, shed light on the circumstances surrounding the partnership with Bohemians 1905. “They basically got to a point where the club (Bohemians) as a whole couldn't agree with the other entity on what direction they wanted to go in, so they decided to go their separate ways in the summer.” Moss expressed relief that the other club continued to operate, albeit under a new name. Bohemians 1905 still sought to maintain a presence in women's football, and the partnership with the Raptors provided an ideal solution.

Moss acknowledged that Bohemians 1905's primary focus remains on their men's team, which is understandable from a financial and sponsorship perspective. However, the club's interest in women's football led them to explore partnership opportunities. “There's actually not that many women's clubs in Prague, and obviously, they (Bohemians) aren't going to partner with Slavia, Sparta, or Dukla, so it only leaves us and a couple of others.” The Raptors' values and expat following in the city made them an attractive partner for Bohemians 1905.

The partnership between the Raptors and Bohemians 1905 marks the first step in an ambitious plan to propel the team onto a bigger stage. Moss believes that the Czech women's football landscape presents an opportunity for the Raptors to compete for a third Women's Champions League spot within the next few years. While this goal may seem fanciful at first, Moss argues that the gap between the top teams, such as Sparta Prague and Slavia Prague, and the rest of the league creates a void that the Raptors can fill. “We both want to get into the first division, we both want to be challenging for that third European spot. We have those shared aspirations, but we know it's going to be tough getting there.”

Moss acknowledges that achieving this goal will be challenging, both on and off the pitch. The club faces a tug-of-war battle with the council and developers over their current home, with redevelopment plans threatening the security of their future. One potential solution is to play at Dolicek, the home of Bohemians 1905. This would not only provide a more central location in Prague but also increase the team's visibility. Moss explained, “We've been basically looking for our own place since we started. We got close with a couple, but it's very difficult because there's not so much green space in Prague. And as soon as some green space becomes available, there's some money somewhere that means that space is going to become apartments or offices or something like that.”

The Prague Raptors' fanbase is a diverse and vibrant community, comprising individuals from all corners of the globe who have made Prague their home away from home. This eclectic environment fosters a unique spirit, where people from different backgrounds come together to play football. As a result, English has become the predominant language spoken both on and off the pitch. However, this hasn't always been welcomed by everyone.

According to Moss, the team's owner, there were concerns about racism and hostility before the team was even established. “Before we started (the team), lots of people were coming to us and saying you're going to have racism every week and it's going to be horrendous.” Unfortunately, these concerns were not entirely unfounded. Moss revealed that the team has experienced instances of racism, with players being subjected to vile abuse. “There's been periods where it has been. We've had players called monkeys and all stuff like this. We have had people been told to go back to their countries.” One particularly distressing incident occurred during the women's team's first year, when Czech players were reduced to tears by the racist taunts from opposing fans.

Despite these challenges, Moss acknowledges that many people have been supportive of the team. “It's been tough, but I also think a lot of people have been very good with us.” However, Moss believes that the team's reputation as an expat team can sometimes work against them. “Sometimes, the way we push ourselves goes against us because I think teams enjoy playing us and get stuck in a little bit more against us.” Nevertheless, the team has made significant progress, and Moss is heartened to see more expat teams emerging in the region. “Compared to where we started from, there's more expat teams… which is nice to see.”

The Prague Raptors' story is one of growth and resilience. Despite the occasional unsavory experience, the team has flourished, attracting more and more players to its ranks. A clear pathway is now emerging, from youth teams to the first teams, with players seeing a future in the blue and white of the Raptors. With the recent partnership with Bohemians 1905, the team's future looks brighter than ever. As Moss looks to the future, he can take pride in the team's prehistoric name, but its nature is certainly forward-thinking and inclusive.