TSG visits friends in Lauffen

13 July 2014 is a historic date. For most football fans, this is because this was the day the German national team secured their fourth World Cup title, beating Argentina in Maracana. But for a few somewhat less high-flying footballers from the quiet town of Lauffen, this Sunday marked the greatest moment in their sporting careers too: this was the day they played for their regional league team Sportfreunde against TSG Hoffenheim. And although the game ended 0-8, and none of the Lauffen players were able to show their coach that they could outplay Mario Götze, or at least Sebastian Rudy, they thoroughly enjoyed what was a historic match for their club, as first chairman Steffen Baumann explained: "That was the greatest day in the history of the Sportfreunde."

The test match between the regional league team and the Bundesliga team in front of around 1200 spectators even made it into national headlines - albeit for reasons the hosts would rather have avoided. In the 53rd minute, Lukas Losch made it clear to his coach that although he might not be better than Sebastian Rudy, he was significantly slower. A failed tackle landed on the Hoffenheim player's ankle, and he had to be substituted off the pitch. "Rudy injured in first test match" was the title of the article in the BILD newspaper - and Losch gained a local reputation that we would rather have gone without. 

Fast-forward eleven years. The Sportfreunde are once again preparing for a match against TSG. The stadium directly next to the Neckar hasn't changed much. A "VIP block" has popped up alongside the rustic wooden main stands, but otherwise things look much like they did on 13 July 2014. There is even a relic of the game hanging in the changing rooms to remind the Sportfreunde before every training session of the game against the Bundesliga team with Roberto Firmino and Niklas Süle, who were star players at the time. It is a neatly pinned up photo showing Losch's foul against Rudy. The fact that the scene still hasn't been forgotten and is wheeled out as an anecdote at every occasion has its consequences: Losch, who is now only playing for the second team and will be ending his active career in the summer to become first chairman of the club in March 2026, was internally "banned" from the dream game, as Baumann explains jokingly: "We don't want to take that risk. We've already established that."

An eleven-year ban for games against TSG - Losch has accepted his record-breaking ban gracefully: "It's probably better for everyone if I don't play," he said, laughing, before adding: "But I'm still looking forward to the game, it's going to be a big day for the club." Baumann thinks so too - and he should know. His father used to play for the Sportfreunde, and he himself has been involved at the club for decades. In front of the grounds there is a sign that reads: "Parking space reserved for first chairman Steffen Baumann." The former player hasn't just been preparing the club for the future off the pitch: his son Zino is captain and a key player on the team. Three generations of Sportfreunde players. 

May 2025: around two months to go until the big game. The team is training. Zino Baumann steps onto the pitch wearing a TSG shirt. There are quite a few Hoffenheim fans in the Lauffen squad, but with him it's different. Very different in fact, since his loyalty is to VfB Stuttgart. He doesn't see a conflict of interest, especially since Lauffen has a close connection to TSG - partly through their cooperation at the AOK campus, but also through former head of sponsoring at Hoffenheim Arnfried Lemmle, who was first a player and then a coach at Lauffen. Not to mention former player Damir Sunijc, who is now touring the region with the HOFFEXPRESS and provides the Sportfreunde with shirts every now and then. Including Zino Baumann, who was still just a child in 2014. But now his dream of playing against the professionals is about to come true too. "For guys like us it's probably going to be the game of our lives. To have the chance to play against stars who you've only seen in the stadium or on TV is unbelievable."

According to Baumann junior, underdogs Lauffen are focused on "not losing by double-digits," but the club is still going into the game with the confidence that they are top of their regional league table. Mallorca also had a small role to play in the team's ongoing presence in the regional league. The club had its best years in the 1990s, thanks to goals scored by striker Marco Herbst, also known in Lauffen as "Bomber", when the Sportfreunde were promoted to the Landesliga for the first time. When the club was finally in contention for promotion again two years ago, a return to the Landesliga was within reach. After their 4-0 win against Schornbach, the Sportfreunde only needed one more win to get promoted - but then the holiday paradise intervened. Some time ago, the team had planned a trip to the Balearic island. Staying true to their commitment, they went away together between the play-offs on Wednesday and Sunday. In true Lauffen style, they did not hold back in Mallorca - with the side-effect that the team's strength failed them in the final play-off against Pleidelsheim, which they lost 0-2. "Yeah, it was a bit of a mess," Zino Baumann admits, laughing. 

A fitting anecdote for a club whose slogan is "Not just any team." The slogan also stands for togetherness, which in theory applies to the Mallorca trip too. But really it's supposed to emphasise other things, as the captain explained: "I think we're a club that draws very strongly on our mentality, has a lot of team spirit, and where the players really identify with the club. Since you don't earn as much playing for us as you can playing for some of our competitors, we only play well when everyone is 100% committed and giving it their all. That sets us apart, and that's why other teams never like playing against us."

André Winkler supports this attitude. The player-coach, for whom the game against TSG will mark the end of his active career, wants to put up a good fight against the Bundesliga team, and has turned to extraordinary methods. "We're taking the game so seriously that we're starting our preparation ten days before. It would be brutal to go into a game like this without any training." Although the 32-year-old's resolution that "there are no friendly matches, only test matches" only partly applies to Hoffenheim, he still maintains that: "We don't want to just get shot down and end up with cramps after 40 minutes. Last season we were defensively very good, and had more problems when we were attacking. But having a solid defence will be more important against TSG." A repeat of Losch-gate should, however, be avoided at all costs: "Of course we don't want to injure anyone. It's a very special game for me too, and the perfect way to say goodbye as a player. What could be better? Everyone should make the most of the day."

To create the best possible setting for the game, the club has already begun preparing for the highlight of the summer. The wooden stands will ideally be painted, and the club house behind it repurposed. Head of department Marc Strohmaier is hoping that the game will not only guarantee a special day, but also special proceeds. "The first game against TSG undoubtedly shaped the club. A day like that obviously brings in money, which is very important for a small club like ours. We're expecting more than 1000 spectators. There's a back entrance which we'll use as a VIP zone alongside the adjacent stands. There'll also be interviews there after the game."

The fact that the old stands haven't been replaced yet is due to a lack of financial resources - but there are also nostalgic reasons behind it, as Strohmaier, who has been involved at the club for decades, explained: "A while ago we were thinking about expanding the bar and adding a built-in glass wall. But firstly we didn't have a sponsor, and secondly the stands are really nice. They provide cover when the weather is bad, and it really echoes when things get a bit lively. We couldn't get rid of it."

From those same stands, with the best view of the pitch, Lukas Losch will also be watching the game. As well as a pleasant afternoon, an acceptable result for the Sportfreunde, and a good celebration afterwards, he has one extra wish: "Sebastian Rudy has returned to TSG as a scout. Maybe he'll be there too - then I can finally apologise for that foul."