Clubs set for bigger carrot

Tampines Rovers pocketed S$150,000 when they won last 

year's S-League. Next year's champions could bring home 

S$250,000 if the S-League chief's plan is approved.

Photo: TODAY

Bigger prize for league winners part of efforts to boost standards, interest

SINGAPORE - Clubs in the Great Eastern-Yeo's S-League are set for a cash boost in the form of subsidies to lure marquee names to Singapore next year.

If S-League Chief Executive Lim Chin and his team have their way, more money could also be thrown into the prize pot for the club that wins the league.

If approved, the monetary reward for the 2013 S-League champions will jump, from the current S$150,000 to S$250,000. The cheque for the winners of the RHB Singapore Cup will also grow from S$80,000 to S$100,000.

It is not clear if the teams that finish behind the winners will also see a corresponding increase in winnings. Currently, the runners-up in the S-League take home S$80,000 while third place fetches a S$40,000 reward.

S-League format set for revamp

By ESPNSTAR.com staff

Photo: Wikipedia

Changes to the format of the Great Eastern-Yeo's S-League are in the works as Singapore's top professional football league reinvents itself in a bid to win more fans.

The current format of the S-League sees the 13 teams in the league play one another in home and away fixtures, with the final standings of the teams decided after all 24 rounds of games have been played but next season could see an additional component added to this set-up.

Following the conclusion of the initial 24 rounds of games, the S-League champions will then be decided in a mini-league competition between the top seven sides in the table, whilst a separate mini-league will also be created for the remaining six sides to compete for their final position.

Speaking to TODAY at a S-League club chairmen's meeting, chief executive Lim Chin revealed: "S-League 2013 is starting to take shape, the league format has been decided ... and the fitness test is also more or less decided.

"We will be making formal announcements in two weeks when we get final approval for subsidies for clubs to sign marquee players next year.

"But there is some good news: The funding (request) is already being processed."

S-League stars offer soccer tips to kids

By AsiaOne

  

Mislav Karoglan. Hassan Sunny. Jordan Webb.

They are just three of the 10 S-League stars who will be dispensing soccer tips to 150 children aged nine to 11 years old this Sunday at the RHB Soccer Clinic with S-League Stars.

This workshop, the first to be conducted by the S-League stars, will be held at the Jalan Besar Stadium located at Tyrwhitt Road.

There, the players will give tips ranging from dribbling to shooting.

The event is organised by the community centres (CCs) of the People’s Association (PA), and is one of five workshops conducted by sports celebrities.

Previous workshops were conducted by Vincent Ng, Sheik Alau’ddin, Fandi Ahmad and Ashley Liew.

Said Football Association of Singapore (FAS) president, Mr Zainudin Nordin: "It remains a key objective for FAS to reach out to the community through football, and to promote football at the 2 2 grassroots level.

"Therefore it is a real pleasure to be able to work with People’s Association to bring children participants to this meaningful event, and we hope they will have an afternoon to remember."

The Sports Celebrities series is part of the Keep Fit & Wellness campaign from July to September 2012, which aims to bond the community through the various courses and workshops. (SOURCE)

Open letter to S-League CEO Mr.Lim Chin

Photo: SPH

Dear Mr. Lim,

It is very heartening to witness you sitting amongst other S-League football fans and soaking in the match experience.

I wish to convey a very BIG THANK YOU for being the hands-on chief executive officer we have never had. And unlike your predecessors who can only offer - at best words and equivocal stances; your actions speak louder at this earlier stage of your appointment; and it have given us S-league supporters renewed hope & faith that our domestic league is now receiving adequate remedy albeit at it's recovery stage.

We are encouraged that you are engaging fans from various supporter clubs and exchange ideas and gathering feedback from them. Please continue the good work and thank you for being the commander on the ground.
 

Sincerely,

Cheetahs Fan

S-League to review Beep Test

By TODAY

Photo: Great Eastern Yeo's Facebook

SINGAPORE - Five-time S-League top goal-scorer Mirko Grabovac fell victim to it, as did former Tampines Rovers' defender Sead Muratovic.

The S-League's mandatory fitness assessment, the Beep Test, has also claimed the scalps of local talents like Gusta Guzarishah and continues to prevent Tampines cult hero Ahmad Latiff Khamaruddin from turning out for the defending S-League champions this season.

But the 2013 season may see respite for players who struggle with the multi-stage fitness test that aids trainers to measure the maximum oxygen uptake of athletes (VO2 max).

Speaking to Today, S-League chief executive Lim Chin said: "We're looking into why players fail the Beep Test and we've got sports scientists to look at other tests that could be more appropriate for football.

"We may make changes to the current system or use a different test, and the announcement will be made before the end of this season."

Two-tier S-League in 2014?

By Ali Kasim

Photo: SPH file picture

IT’S BEEN 16 years since the S-League kicked off.

In 1996, eight teams graced the inaugural season.

Two years from now, that number could double as the league expands to a two-tier format, allowing for a promotion-relegation system between a total of 16 teams.

This is the plan of S-League CEO Lim Chin as the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) looks towards developing S-League version 2.0.

Speaking to The New Paper yesterday, Lim said the plans for a two-tier league, titled S1-S2, are at a “very preliminary stage” and that the FAS plans to hold a “big meeting in April” to discuss the viability and various options with all football stakeholders.

Hougang Hools greet Mr. Lim Chin at opening match day

 

 

Photos: Great Eastern Yeo's 

More pictures from Chris

Hougang United FC Press Conference 2012

By Hougang Hools

Hougang United Football Club held it's pre-season press conference at the Kovan Hub on Friday, 3rd Feb 2012.

Club manager Edwin Tan kick started the evening announcing WAGA as Hougang United's new apparel sponsor. Tan, who spoke on behalf of Chairman Bill Ng introduced Nenad Bacina as the new head coach and assistant coaches Hyrizan Jufri and Nahar Daud as the new technical team spear heading the Cheetahs campaign. S-League CEO Lim Chin was amongst the guests present.

Tan also introduced new signings, Croatian duo midfielder Antre Barac and centerback Stanko Vidakovic.

Head Coach Nenad Bacina then commented that Hougang United have since retained the services of 10 players from the previous season including newly appointed team captain Isaac Lau, Guinean forward Mamadou Diallo and Canadian winger Jordan Webb.