Mariners: Bolt not fit enough
Both Usain Bolt and his coach Mike Mulvey agree on one thing.
He isn’t fit enough to play in the A-League. But that’s not to say he can’t get there, with two months before the season kick-off.
Central Coast gave Bolt 20 minutes of action in a hyped pre-season run on Friday night in Gosford.
The 32-year-old played on the left wing. He didn’t look out of place but didn’t impress.
The eight-times Olympic champion is in the unenviable position of having a microscope over his every move as he tries to adjust to a second sporting career.
Mulvey said judgments on his Bolt’s ability would need to come after a fitness programme.
‘‘In all seriousness he’s not fit,’’ Mulvey said. ‘‘No athletics coach will actually get you to accelerate, decelerate and with multidirectional movement like there is in football. He struggles with that right now.’’
Having handed the Jamaican a trial, the Mariners are committed to giving Bolt every chance to make it in the league. Even if they are forced to make the tough call to cut their high-profile recruit, they say Bolt’s time on the Central Coast has been a success.
‘‘He’s absolutely determined, we’re loving him being here on the coast and he’s loving being a part of a team environment,’’ Mulvey said. ‘‘The positive aspects so much outweigh the negatives.’’
The Mariners commence their A-League campaign on October 21 against Brisbane Roar.