A-League club Central Coast Mariners is "leaving no stone unturned" in a bid to get Olympic champion Usain Bolt's professional football career up and running, according to the AAP. The eight-time Olympic Gold Medalist and 11-time world champion touched down in Sydney ahead of what the Mariners are calling an "indefinite training period." The press greeted Bolt, along with a handful of fans in "arguably the most anticipated trial move in A-League history" -- giving credence to proponents of the move who suggest Bolt's signing will "inject much needed interest to the competition." The club hopes to "turn him into A-League material" in just three months, with a view to offering the Jamaican a full-time contract in time for the start of the '18-19 season in late October. To that end, the Mariners have "poured additional coaching and high-performance resources into the project," which both parties insist is "not a stunt." Bolt said, "I've said all along this is for real and I'm here to show what I can do." He further displayed his confidence by answering "forever" when asked how long he would be staying in Australia (AAP, 8/17).
THE BIG QUESTION: In Sydney, Christian Nicolussi wrote it remains to be seen "how he will handle the rough and tumble of Australian football." Posed that question, Bolt smiled and said, "Come on, I'm 6'5." While skeptics will "remain just that" about Bolt and his actual chances of landing an A-League deal, he was "backing himself" for success on the pitch. He said, "I've said it since my last season of track and field I want to play football, I know what I'm capable of, I know what I can do, so I'm thankful to the Mariners for giving me this opportunity to show what I'm capable of. ... The nerves will always be there, but I'm more excited than anything else." Mariners Manager Shaun Mielekamp has "lost count of the times he has been asked if Bolt's indefinite train-and-trial arrangement was a stunt." He said, "He's here to play, and I don't need to answer that question anymore. Everyone will see for themselves." Bolt's first training will be Tuesday. Pencil in Aug. 31 as his first game "when he runs out for the Mariners against a Central Coast representative side, made up of the region's best amateurs." The game is "expected to draw a huge crowd at Central Coast Stadium" (SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 8/18).
