XtraTime Web Desk: Sprint king Usain Bolt makes a significant statement on his ‘dream’ football career, as he says his performance in a trial game on Friday could decide his future with the Central Coast Mariners in A-League and his quest to play professional football.
The eight-time Olympic sprinting champion is expected to start for the Mariners against a Macarthur South West United team in western Sydney. United play in a second-tier competition.
‘This is going to be a big game. I think it will determine if the club makes up its mind on what to do with my career,’ Bolt said.
The Mariners begin the A-League regular season on October 21 in Brisbane against the Roar. Bolt, who holds the 100m and 200m world records, has retired from competitive track and field.
After being used as a winger in his first brief trial appearance in late August, Bolt hinted at a positional change for the match at Sydney’s Campbelltown Stadium.
Coach Mike Mulvey ‘wants to play me up top more,’ Bolt said. ‘The couple of games that I played, I didn’t play with the first team.
‘There’s a few first-team boys in the team for Friday. So I’ll get different service, better service because they’re more seasoned and more mature. So he just told me to make sure I’m focused and push myself, and I’ll just take the chances when I get them.’