Legendary Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt says he won’t call himself a footballer until he signs a professional contract with A-League side Central Coast Mariners.
Usain Bolt doesn’t consider himself a footballer yet and doubts remain over his ability to earn an A-League contract with Central Coast, despite bagging his first brace.
Playing as a striker, Bolt scored two second half goals for the Mariners in their 4-0 win over Macarthur South West United at Campbelltown Sports Stadium in Sydney on Friday.
His impressive first goal came from a strong run and fierce finish and the second was a tap into an empty goal following a collision between Macarthur’s goalkeeper and a defender.
Asked if would call himself a soccer player, legendary track athlete Bolt said: “until I sign (a contract), I’m not saying that.”
While Bolt and Mariners coach Mike Mulevy were pleased with his performance on Friday, doubts linger over whether he can improve enough to secure a contract.
His fitness is certainly better, but his ball control and on-field vision are patchy and Bolt himself concedes they are the two poorest aspects of his game.
With the A-League starting next week, Bolt is hoping the Mariners will soon provide some clarity on his prospects at the club.
“The season is coming up now, so we have to sit down after this game and figure out what we’re going to do but until then, I’m just here to train and to continue,”‘ Bolt said.
Bolt said he definitely felt ready to play in the A-League if required, but Mulvey reiterated it could still be a while before a decision is made on whether the Jamaican gets a contract.
‘I think we’re all in agreement that we’ll look about January,” Mulvey said.
With the youth league not starting until next month and Bolt unlikely to be considered ready for A-League duty just yet, that leaves the issue of where he will get games over the next few weeks.
Mulvey didn’t shed any light on that topic.
‘I don’t know how that’s going to work, but my main mission is Brisbane next week, October 21,” Mulvey said, referring to the Mariners first-round A-League game.
Mulvey praised Bolt for the insights he had passed on to the club’s youngsters and the global exposure the Mariners and the region had received because of his presence.
Kangas
Roar Rookie
I agree, bolt would be perefect for afl , the American Mason Cox showed that it’s fairly easy to get the skills .
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
Hunt was a good enough player not worth his wages though, but then he started overindulging with his nostrils. It was more that he was a good athlete though. Folau was deficient in three areas, he couldn't kick, his fitness was very poor,and he couldn;t think for himself on the field. His best ability in rugby running with the ball doesn't count so that left his ability to leap and catch balls over shorter players and without them being able to spoil because it would be a knock on. Folau was only a top line player at one club the Storm because they had someone there to control his every move. The AFL boasted that he was a blank slate and that was preferrable to knowing how to kick already in another code. You can still see what a woeful kicker he is in rugby to this day after years of the AFL training him. Folau was a very good athlete for his size, he could have been a defender in AFL if he had half a brain which he didn't, and a bit more fitness. In the end he started playing as a ruckman because he had a good leap on him despite being shorter than other ruckman. Bolt is the ultimate AFL athlete, height + speed, plus he can kick from his football background, he is smart, he can catch from his cricket background. Then you have the international publicity he is worth about 50 million a year in world wide publicity. He could walk into AFL where there are much lower skill standards with no problem.
chris
Guest
Isn't that what i said pest?
Mister Football
Roar Guru
A number 10? I would have thought he lacks pretty much everything to be a number 10.
Ben of Phnom Penh
Roar Guru
I have been impressed with the way Bolt has conducted himself.
chris
Guest
Obviously Bolt lacks the finesse and the touch to be a number 10 or a player that the game revolves around. But if he can get on the end of things with his speed and height then who knows. With the publicity he brings the Mariners dont need to compare him against Joe Nobody who may also be trialling and may be a better player.
chris
Guest
The Pest is not happy.
Nemesis
Guest
That is unknown until he plays ALeague. If he plays ALeague & is competitive and adds something to his team, then he's up to ALeague standard. William Gallas won the World Cup with France. Alas, when he came to ALeague he was well below ALeague standard. Players have come from playing LaLiga, SerieA, EPL and not been up to ALeague standard. Until we see them playing in the ALeague, we can't judge them.
Mister Football
Roar Guru
Therefore, we both agree, maybe he is A-League standard.
Fadida
Guest
None of that made much sense
Nemesis
Guest
Same as Karmichael Hunt & Falou were AFL standard. And, this is when AFL is the best Aussie Rules competition in the world. Whilst, ALeague is not even the best football competition in Asia.
Mahler
Guest
Usain is no worse than many A League players I've seen in the last 10 years. He can only improve. The Mariners should hang on to him for the PR $$ value alone. I think he's the greatest PR man the A League has had. His power stretches across all of sport.
Mister Football
Roar Guru
Maybe he is A-League standard.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
Bolt knows where to run and is mobile. For a striker thats invaluable. What was amazing with the previous appearance is having the self appointed biggest fool of the forum then calling him a 12 year old in that department, when he made 20 yards to be in the right spot to score, if the pass had been a tad slower, when another player failed to make 2 in the right direction at the same time.