May 7, 2004

For failing pre-season fitness tests, 7 S-League sides must now pay $5,000. Apart from the $5,000 fines, the errant clubs will be re-tested in June. If they fail to meet the mark again, they will be fined a further $5,000.

It is the first time clubs have been financially penalised for employing unfit footballers.

In a clear indication of how below par some S-League footballers are, only 3 clubs-Albirex Niigata, Geylang United & Woodlands Wellington League managed to pass their the Level 13 shuttle 9 standard "Beep" tests.

The 7 clubs who failed to pass the test are Balestier Khalsa, Home United, SAFFC, Sinchi TV, Tampines Rovers, Tanjong Pagar United & the Young Lions.

The current standard is a significant jump from the Level 12 shuttle 12 standard set last season.

In a "Beep" test, each level contains a series of 12 shuttle runs of 20m. Runners must complete each before a beep sounds. With each level, the interval between beeps decreases so the shuttle runs get faster.

S-League CEO Chan King Fook said that despite the less than satisfactory results, this does not mean that S-League players are unfit as the league try achieve higher & higher standards with each passing season.

Also according to Chan, the "Beep" tests are not the only gauge of fitness in professional sports as there are other forms of tests to determine fitness level. Many sports experts agreed the "Beep" test alone is not enough but at the moment S-league do not have the resources to perform other forms of testing.

The clubs that passed the test this season will not be allowed to rest on their laurels as the FAS plan to raise the fitness benchmark again next season.