Bolt passes first test
Birthday boy ready to work at Mariners
USAIN Bolt has started his ALeague adventure with Central Coast, saying he wishes to work hard, get fit and the rest is up to coach Mike Mulvey.
Bolt’s “indefinite” training period with the Mariners kicked off yesterday at Central Coast Stadium.
A 15-minute passing drill, which Bolt completed without any terrible gaffes, was Mulvey’s only chance to judge the Jamaican sprint superstar’s footballing skill.
They then addressed the media, made up of almost 100 journalists, photographers and camera operators, for more than 20 minutes.
“I’m entirely out of my comfort zone but that’s why I am here,” Bolt said.
“It’s just like track and field. The first day of training is always the roughest one.
“You can tell how much work you need to put in.
“But it felt OK. I know it’s going to take time to work and I’m ready to work.”
He said he was not setting targets, and that his greatest strength on the park — apart from record pace — was that he was cool under pressure.
“I’m just going to put in the work,” he said. ‘I have to get fit. “I’m just here to push myself . . . learn and get better.
“As I told the coach from the start, I’m here with a blank slate.”
Bolt said he would accept and respect Mulvey’s judgment on whether the Mariners should offer a contract, and that he was ready to play any position.
He said he had received offers from clubs in France and Spain but they were not in the top division and he would have had to learn a new language.
Mulvey continues to insist there is no timeline for the recruit, who could be unleashed in an August 31 trial game, to prove his worth.
“We don’t have to make a decision tomorrow or the next day . . . I’m happy for him to be here,” he said, rubbishing the idea Bolt could be a distraction.
“The guy is a winner. Eight gold medals in the Olympics, you don’t just do that by having great ability.”
Bolt, who will be eased into football duties, had a predictably brief opening hit-out.
He was all smiles as he celebrated his 32nd birthday, regularly mopping his brow in sunny conditions in Gosford.
The bulk of the squad took part in a simulated match drill while Bolt did some planks and other exercises under the watchful eye of Andrew Young, the Mariners’ head of performance.
It has been a year since Bolt retired from athletics. He has previously trained with clubs in Germany, South Africa and Norway without being offered a contract.
His presence has already resulted in unprecedented worldwide media coverage for the A-League.