Fans at fever pitch as Bolt makes debut
MARINERS COACH: HE DOESN’T HAVE FOOTBALL FITNESS
Usain Bolt is set to get a first taste of competitive football today in a much-hyped game, but the sprint superstar admits he is nervous, with his fitness levels not up to scratch.
The Jamaican is likely to be handed a 10- or 15-minute run-out for Australia’s Central Coast Mariners in a friendly against an amateur side as he works towards his dream of earning a playing contract and becoming a professional footballer.
Such is the buzz swirling around the match that it will be broadcast live on pay TV and 10 000 fans are expected to cram into the Central Coast Stadium for what is normally a low-key pre-season fixture.
The club, which finished bottom of the A-League last season, is planning fireworks and other entertainment to keep fans amused until Bolt makes his entrance.
All eyes will be on the eighttime Olympic champion with a local paper planning to distribute 100 000 cardboard cut-out face masks of the 32-year-old for onlookers to wear.
Bolt dominated sprinting after taking double individual gold at the Beijing Olympics in 2008 and he remains the world record holder for the 100 metres.
He went on to win a further six Olympic gold medals and pick up 11 world titles before retiring last year and pursuing his passion for football.
His football dream is still a work in progress, with Bolt admitting this week to struggling with the constant stop-start of the sport, unlike his usual quick fire sprint on the athletics track.
“He doesn’t have football fitness, which is natural. We have not brought him in and said you have to do this and do that by this time,” said Mariners coach Mike Mulvey.
Mariners head of performance Andrew Young was blunt in his assessment: “As of right now, Usain’s not in the type of condition required to play A-League,” he told Sydney’s Daily Telegraph.
“We have to work on his aerobic capacity and he knows that.”
The Mariners kick off their A-League season away to Brisbane Roar on October 21.
Despite Bolt being likely to spend most of Friday’s game on the bench, his presence at the club’s base in Gosford, 75km north of Sydney, has generated global excitement.
The bright lights of Sydney are not far away, but Bolt has no plans to be out partying.
“I do want to enjoy the city and the life but I’m still going to remember that I’m a professional footballer now,” he said. –