Usain Bolt believes he will be “up and running at speed” within a month after making his professional football debut in Australia in a 6-1 pre-season friendly win.
By Alexander Britton, Press Association Sport, Gosford
August 31 2018 4:16 PM
Usain Bolt believes he will be “up and running at speed” within a month after making his professional football debut in Australia in a 6-1 pre-season friendly win.
The 32-year-old former sprinter was drafted into the Central Coast Mariners’ attack with 20 minutes left to play and with the outcome already beyond doubt.
The eight-time Olympic gold medallist had seven touches of the ball and came close to getting on the end of a cross towards the end of the match, but failed to score against a Central Coast Select XI.
After the match, he said: “I think the first 15 was pretty good, the last five I could feel my back getting a little bit tight.
“But overall I wasn’t too tired so that’s a good sign.
“I think probably in the next month I should be up and running at speed.”
Asked about which aspects of his game he needs to improve on, Bolt said: “I think moving off the ball, knowing and understanding where to be when the ball is played to the wing.
A moment in sporting history is made. @usainbolt, the footballer, steps onto the pitch in Yellow & Navy. ⚡️ #CCMFC #ALeague pic.twitter.com/3j9ZuEvTsf
“It’s all about the movement, I personally think.
“In four months’ time, I’ll be fit, be getting a lot more time on the ball. I personally feel I will get a contract by then, I will be playing for much more time.
“I feel like that with track and field, it’s not that rough on your body.
“We don’t have a lot of contact so I don’t think it’s hard on my body.
“So I think I’m good for five years. I’m in good shape. I’m feeling young and I’m ready to go.”
The Central Coast Stadium – which hosted an average of 7,500 fans per game in the last A-League season – had 9,958 through the gate for the Jamaican’s first Mariners match.
And the interest in the potential debut for the world’s fastest man was not confined to the ground, with the match broadcast in 40 countries.
Sporting bright orange boots and gloves on a cold Friday night in Gosford, Bolt was ordered to stretch his legs twice in the first half – with one lucky fan getting a high-five as he made his way back to the bench.
Look who’s made his debut in professional football… ⚡️⚽️ Congratulations @usainbolt ???? pic.twitter.com/Ju4A7Vu72H
Bolt chose to wear the number 95 for the game against the select XI – an obvious nod to his world record 9.58 100m record.
And the tracksuit came off late in the second half as Bolt’s entrance delighted the Central Coast Stadium crowd.
Head coach Mike Mulvey said: “I thought the big fella did okay. He’s a confident guy.
“The game changed a lot in the second half, we scored a lot of goals in the first half and they dropped a lot deeper, so there was no space in behind.
“It was a good exercise. He was on a hiding to nothing, he was a little bit nervous, but I’m quite happy with him.”
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