Usain Bolt began training with Central Coast Mariners this week.GETTY IMAGES
Usain Bolt is vying for a A$3M ($2.2M) contract with the Central Coast Mariners, although "how one of the richest deals in A-League history is paid for remains contentiously undecided," according to Nick Walshaw of the Sydney DAILY TELEGRAPH. While the Bolt story has "already reached a global audience of over 300 million," Football Federation Australia is yet to guarantee how much of its marquee player fund will be used on the Jamaican "should he earn a Mariners contract." The club is offering to pay Bolt A$3M for the '18-19 season -- a "large chunk" of which will be fronted by Owner Mike Charlesworth. While the agreement is "among the richest in Australian football history," Bolt could still have earned "more than double the amount internationally," most notably in the U.S. and Turkey. It is also worth noting that should the Mariners sign the Olympic legend, "they will see an explosion of revenue streams in areas like sponsorship, membership, crowds and merchandise." According to global media monitoring service Isentia, Bolt's football story on the Coast has "already reached" 300 million people and generated A$16M ($11.6M) in free publicity for the Central Coast. FFA is "already exploring the option" of selling int'l TV rights to the Mariners trial game next Friday, which doubles as Bolt's first appearance with the club. While the game is "already deriving an earn from Project Bolt," nobody at the A-League HQ can "confirm how his contract will be split." While Charlesworth is expected to fund 70% of the deal, it was hoped the FFA "would toss in around" A$900,000 ($652,860) from its "marquee war chest" (DAILY TELEGRAPH, 8/23).
'HE'S GOING TO MAKE IT': In Sydney, Tom Decent reported Bolt may have completed just two light training sessions, but one of his new teammates is "adamant" that he has what it takes to "make it." Mariners defender Antony Golec said, "He knows what he wants, he's so determined. ... He has so much self-belief and confidence that he's going to make it. That's what you need as an athlete. He's got six weeks to prove not just to the club but to everyone around the world that he is good enough. If he wants it, he'll get it. He's done it time and time again. I have no doubt he'll do it in football." Anticipation "is growing" among Bolt's teammates to see him in a game situation. Golec added, "He's the fastest man in the world and probably will be for a very long time, so we're curious to see if someone can play a ball over the top and see how quick he's going to get to it" (THE AGE, 8/23).
