Usain Bolt makes football debut

By Daily Sports on August 31, 2018

Olympic sprint champion, Usain Bolt, came off the bench to commence his football career with Australia’s Central Coast Mariners in a pre-season friendly at Gosford on Friday.

However, Bolt later conceded that he would need more time to get up to speed.

The 32-year-old Jamaican, who is hoping to win a professional contract ahead of the Mariners’ 2018-19 A-League campaign, was greeted by a crowd of nearly 10,000 as he stepped onto the pitch.

The match played at the team’s base north of Sydney, saw Bolt coming in as a substitute in the 72nd minute against an amateur select side.

With the Mariners already leading 6-0, a relaxed Bolt pulled off a few step-overs on the left wing and was inches away from connecting with a close-range tap-in.

There were a few heavy touches and the occasional loss of possession in the final few minutes, which showed Bolt still has plenty of work to do.

After the Mariners sealed a 6-1 victory, Bolt acknowledged that he would need at least, four months to build up his fitness levels and perform at his peak on the football pitch.

“Probably four or five months… to get fit, two months. Four months from now, I’ll be playing like one of the guys,” he said.

“It was good; it was what I expected. I was a bit nervous, but as soon as I got on the field it went away.

“My fitness is much better. The more I play, listen and train the better I’ll get,” he said.

Bolt’s attempt to transform himself from global athletics superstar to professional football player has generated huge publicity for the struggling Mariners, who finished bottom of the 10-team A-league last season.

It has also drawn scepticism, with Adelaide United coach, Marco Kurz, questioning Bolt’s open-ended trial, saying the A-League should focus on recruiting proven talents and improving Australian youngsters. (Reuters/NAN)

Source Daily Sports

Posted August 31, 2018


 

You may also like...
Musa features in Leicester U-23s draw

We’ve learnt our lessons from Korea Invitational Tournament:...

INTERESTING CLAIM INVOLVING NEW MANCHESTER UNITED BOSS ERIK...

CAF names Mohamed Salah best African Player, Oshola...

Real Overcome Getafe Test To Put Pressure On...

Lampard Looks To The Future After Chelsea’s Champions...

 

Latest News Awori Unity Cup Kicks Off With Royal Splendour Assault: NPFL fan gets three-month sentence Nigeria names squad for U-18, U-20 zonal handball champs Flamingos target big win against Algeria Itauma: Nigerian-blooded heavyweight phenom poised to inherit Tyson’s throne At 25th Edelman Trust Barometer Launch, African Public Relations Association Hails Partnership With Edelman Enugu To Immortalize Christian Chukwu As Gov Mbah Visits Family Nigeria boosts flag football participation Aruna’s loss seals World Cup heartbreak for Africa NSC lauds Team Nigeria’s feat at ITTF world tourney Fed Cup: Rangers knock out Insurance in Lagos NOC To Hold Advanced Management Course In Ibadan

 

Most Read Rangers International going, going . . . (55,428 views) Amaju Pinnick: A cat with nine lives (46,567 views) Second Term: Amaju Pinnick, Other NFF Heavyweights Home to Roost •How Pinnick Broke the Jinx (44,579 views) Missing $150,000 IAAF Grant: Solomon Dalung’s Hide and Seek game (44,222 views) Sports Development: Zenith Bank on the zenith (44,189 views) Current issues in Nigerian sports: Matters arising (44,184 views) Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje’s solid footprints, commitment to sports development in Kano State (43,991 views) NFF Presidency: Pinnick, Maigari, Ogunjobi, Okoye in Battle for Supremacy (43,535 views) Olopade, BET9A wave of revolution in NNL (42,636 views) Commonwealth Games 2018: Shame of Muhammadu Buhari, Solomon Dalung (41,280 views) Ibrahimovic’s Man U exit: Whose decision is it? And in whose interest? (39,719 views) John Mikel Obi: Segun Odegbami’s Outrageous Call! (39,140 views)

 

Phone numbers

Tel: +234(0)8066020976
+234(0)8055068145
+234(0)7013416146
+234(0)8094272884

Email addresses

info@dailysportsng.com
support@dailysportsng.com
publisher@dailysportsng.com

Office address

No 3, Adetoun Close, Off College Road, Ogba, Ikeja Lagos.
Website: www.dailysportsng.com

Social Media