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AFTER a week under the watchful eye of national football coach Bernd Stange, the verdict on the Lions is out.
When the one-hour training session at the Geylang Field ended at 8pm yesterday, every player was given a sealed envelope. Inside it was a laminated card.
Printed on the card were their individual scores for the battery of tests the German put them through this week. There was also "homework", a series of fitness exercises and dietary tips tailored for each player to follow.
It is the first time the Lions have had a fitness programme tailor-made for each of them.
"These tests are something new but it is good for the players," said skipper Shahril Ishak. "Our fitness levels have been gauged and we now know what areas need improving."
Taking advantage of the lull after the Malaysian Super League (MSL) ended two weeks ago, Stange gathered the squad this week to check on their condition as well as to work on the pass and move tactics which he is trying to implement.
When the team reported on Monday, they had to undergo tests to determine body fat, a vertical jump test, sprint tests over 10m and 30m to gauge their explosive speed and the gruelling yo-yo test, which is an intermittent shuttle run to measure fitness.
While Stange said the detailed results were confidential, he was willing to share the example of striker Khairul Nizam, who had just recovered from a ruptured cruciate ligament and was told to do more exercises and include more protein in his diet to strengthen his knee.
In Shahril's case, the coach is mindful of burn-out after the 22-game MSL season and advised the 29-year-old playmaker to do five sets of shuttle runs twice a week after training sessions with the LionsXII to maintain his sharpness.
Singapore's next competitive game is an Asian Cup qualifier against Oman at Jalan Besar on Aug 14. The Lions lost their opening Group A game to Jordan 0-4 and prop the four-team group.
While Stange, who was appointed in May, had said earlier this week that the Lions' fitness levels needed improving, the 65-year-old insists that his men, ranked 156th in the world, can beat Oman (99th) next month.
"The players are ready," he said. "On paper, the Omanis are on another level but, if we are to beat them, the desire must come from inside the players.
"They are extremely committed in training and they really want to beat Oman."
The players will now return to the LionsXII or their respective S-League clubs. They will assemble again on Aug 3 to prepare for Oman's visit.
While generally pleased with the attitude shown by his men, Stange wants more improvement.
He said: "We still lack quality in our passing. That is one area to work on the next time I see them."
Until then, the Lions have lots of homework to do.
When the one-hour training session at the Geylang Field ended at 8pm yesterday, every player was given a sealed envelope. Inside it was a laminated card.
Printed on the card were their individual scores for the battery of tests the German put them through this week. There was also "homework", a series of fitness exercises and dietary tips tailored for each player to follow.
It is the first time the Lions have had a fitness programme tailor-made for each of them.
"These tests are something new but it is good for the players," said skipper Shahril Ishak. "Our fitness levels have been gauged and we now know what areas need improving."
Taking advantage of the lull after the Malaysian Super League (MSL) ended two weeks ago, Stange gathered the squad this week to check on their condition as well as to work on the pass and move tactics which he is trying to implement.
When the team reported on Monday, they had to undergo tests to determine body fat, a vertical jump test, sprint tests over 10m and 30m to gauge their explosive speed and the gruelling yo-yo test, which is an intermittent shuttle run to measure fitness.
While Stange said the detailed results were confidential, he was willing to share the example of striker Khairul Nizam, who had just recovered from a ruptured cruciate ligament and was told to do more exercises and include more protein in his diet to strengthen his knee.
In Shahril's case, the coach is mindful of burn-out after the 22-game MSL season and advised the 29-year-old playmaker to do five sets of shuttle runs twice a week after training sessions with the LionsXII to maintain his sharpness.
Singapore's next competitive game is an Asian Cup qualifier against Oman at Jalan Besar on Aug 14. The Lions lost their opening Group A game to Jordan 0-4 and prop the four-team group.
While Stange, who was appointed in May, had said earlier this week that the Lions' fitness levels needed improving, the 65-year-old insists that his men, ranked 156th in the world, can beat Oman (99th) next month.
"The players are ready," he said. "On paper, the Omanis are on another level but, if we are to beat them, the desire must come from inside the players.
"They are extremely committed in training and they really want to beat Oman."
The players will now return to the LionsXII or their respective S-League clubs. They will assemble again on Aug 3 to prepare for Oman's visit.
While generally pleased with the attitude shown by his men, Stange wants more improvement.
He said: "We still lack quality in our passing. That is one area to work on the next time I see them."
Until then, the Lions have lots of homework to do.
