'I want to be treated as one of the boys': Bolt's A-League trial begins
Usain Bolt’s audacious bid to make it in the A-League has officially begun.
The greatest sprinter of all-time made his first public appearance on Tuesday morning on the turf of Central Coast Stadium alongside his new teammates.
With dozens of reporters and photographers there to capture his every move, Bolt strolled out of the tunnel ahead of what is set to be a fascinating trial to get a contract as a professional footballer.
"It’s just like track and field ... the first day is always the roughest one," Bolt said afterwards. "You can tell how much work you need to put in. It felt OK. I know it’s going to take time and work and I’m ready to work.
"This is my first chance getting to train and play and get to a level to play as a professional footballer, so I don’t know what to expect. I’m just here to push myself, learn as much as possible. I told the coach 'listen I am here with a blank slate, no matter what I’ve learned or what I’ve seen on TV'. I’m here to learn and get better and that’s my focus.
"I want to be treated as one of the boys. I don’t want to be treated as though I’m the world’s fastest man."
Asked what position he would like to play, Bolt replied: "That’s all up to the coach really. I’ve expressed that I’m okay on the wing, I’m good at centre forward. At the end of the day, he is the coach and he will determine where I will play or what formation."
As for what he could bring to the team aside from his pace, Bolt said: "I’m very cool under pressure. I think my ability to understand very quickly and to learn is something I am very good at. I think I see the game very well. I have to work on the basic skills."
The eight-time Olympic gold medallist began the session with some light passing to teammates in a circle. Most of his passes hit the mark but one had to be retrieved by a teammate some 30 metres away. He was in quite the relaxed mood.
His first proper passes on Australian soil were about 20 metres to the left of a big lightning bolt cut into the grass near the halfway line.
The session was closed to the general public but one gets the sense that when they hear Bolt is having his first run around, they will be doing anything they can to peep through the fences at the southern end of the ground.
There was a comical moment, after some gentle passing, when the team began its stretching for the morning.
Players were asked to pair up. The two men either side of Bolt went the other way, not deliberately, mind you, but it left one of the world's most recognisable athletes without a partner to stretch out with.
Luckily, it didn't take long for him to find a buddy.
Then came a drill that involved some longer passing - the one where after getting rid of the ball you move to the next cone. Bolt clearly hadn't been briefed on what to do, but he worked it out without trouble.
However, on one occasion, Bolt forgot he had to rush to the next cone. Once the realisation came he had to get on his bike, he dashed 25 metres to the next white marker in no time. The man can move.
Much has been made of Bolt's raw pace. The world has been privileged to watch him beat all those before him for a decade. His aerobic fitness will be the subject of much speculation if he wants to seriously trade running spikes for football studs.
After 10 minutes of passing and running, Bolt looked more fatigued than his teammates. Hands went on hips and he began to experience something he rarely did on the track: sweat.
"I'm sweating," said Bolt as he wiped away the perspiration off his brow with his new navy blue Mariners shirt. It was 10.52am and the temperature was 16 degrees. Has anyone told him the A-League is played during summer?