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Nazvi Careem

Veteran defender Cheung Chi-tak won himself another season as a professional footballer as all 17 players from First Division side Rangers passed the 12-minute fitness test yesterday.

 The 38-year-old, a hero of Hong Kong's 2-1 World Cup qualifying victory over China in 1985, gasped with delight as he ran the required 3,000 metres with one second to spare at the Hong Kong Sports Institute.

 Rangers' efforts were in stark contrast to those of league champions South China, of whom only six out of 15 players were able to pass the compulsory test set by the Hong Kong Football Association (HKFA).

 Players must run 3,000 metres in 12 minutes or be barred from playing this season.

 Former West Ham player Dean Martin was impressive in completing the distance in 10 minutes and 10 seconds.

 Cheung, who was a distant last in his group, said he never expected to pass.

 'I'm really happy that I will be able to play,' he said. 'My hope was to play and coach and if I didn't pass the test, just coach.

 'I didn't train for this properly. We had a few practice runs and I would drop out after four or five laps.

 'It was my mind that got me through here today. I didn't want to take the test again.'  Players who fail the test have another chance on September 2 and 3.

 Rangers boss Philip Lee admitted that Cheung, nicknamed Sai Gwai, was his one worry before the test.

 'I'm happy that all the players passed, especially Sai Gwai,' said Lee. 'If he didn't pass, our defence would have been weakened.'  Cheung was still more than 200 metres from the 3,000-metre marker when the one-minute warning horn went off.

 Using all his strength and stamina, he made a desperate scramble to the finish and collapsed in exhaustion after passing the marker one second before the horn to signal 12 minutes was sounded.

 Martin, 24, went off at a brisk pace and would probably have completed another 400 metres inside 12 minutes.

 He maintained his fitness over the summer break by playing football in Iceland.

 Martin said he did not know why many South China players failed the test, but believed it should not be a problem for most professionals.

 'It was pretty easy,' said Martin. 'I think professional footballers should be able to run 3,000 metres in 12 minutes. After all, we are getting paid good money.

 'Some of the older players may disagree with me, though. It is a very basic fitness test, really.'  Martin's fellow overseas pro, John Maher, timed his run perfectly.

 Maher was running at what seemed to be a slow pace and was trailing in his group throughout the run.

 Constantly looking at his watch, the former Clydebank player, who once spent six months with Chinese team Foshan, comfortably completed the 3,000 metres.

 'I knew exactly what I was doing all the way,' he said. 'I was always in touch with how fast I needed to run.

 'We have done this a few times and all the lads are pretty fit anyway.'  Maher said Cheung, in his role as a coach,played a big part in helping the Rangers players to prepare for the test.

 The team were in China this month on a two-week training stint.

 'Sai Gwai worked us very hard in China, seven days a week,' he said.

 Rangers' efforts will provide encouragement for players from other clubs taking the test this week, as well as the South China players who failed and who are due to retake it next month.

 Players from Sing Tao and First Division newcomers Five-One-Seven will have their runs this evening at the Siu Sai Wan Stadium, while newly promoted Yee Hope take their test tomorrow.

 Happy Valley and Golden face theirs on Saturday.

 The Cooper's Test has come under criticism from several players, but the HKFA is determined to stick by its ruling and has promised no mercy for those who fail to make the grade.

 Among the South China players who failed were Hong Kong Footballer of the Year Au Wai-lun, Lee Kin-wo and veteran midfielder Leslie Santos.

 This week, Peter Velappan, secretary-general of the Asian Football Confederation, praised the HKFA for its efforts to impose stricter fitness regulations.

 Velappan has said in the past that Asian teams have suffered against international opposition because of poor fitness standards.



Sai Gwai beats the odds, and the clock, to qualify