Usain Bolt admits his next match for Central Coast Mariners could be make or break
COULD Usain Bolt be approaching a tipping point? The sprinter-turned-would-be-footballer will take the field for the second time on Friday night in Mariners colours.
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COULD Usain Bolt be approaching a tipping point?
The sprinter-turned-would-be-footballer will take the field for the second time on Friday night in Mariners colours – aware the clock could be ticking on his dreams of professional football.
Though Bolt and coach Mike Mulvey have cautioned against rushing to judgment, Bolt said he realised that Friday night’s friendly against a South West Sydney XI could be a pivotal moment.
The 32-year-old is likely to start at Campbelltown Stadium, determined to prove he is a different player to the one whose 20-minute cameo on August 31 was underwhelming at best.
“This is going to be a big game,” Bolt said.
“It could determine if the club makes up its mind on what to do with my career. So it's very important for me - I'll push myself and hopefully everything will work out.
‘I'm excited, first of all. I'll be a little bit nervous out on the field, but I'm looking forward to opportunities to prove myself. I'm the kind of guy who likes competition, I like pressure. I'm excited to go out there and do my best.
“You won't know what level you're at until you play a competitive game. I've just got to go out there and see what I need to do. But I've put in a lot of work.”
Bolt insisted that key areas of his game would show exponential improvement, less than two months after his indefinite trial with the Mariners began.
“My movement and my touch - I think they're much better now,” he said. “I've learnt how to set my body and where to place the ball.
“There's a lot of things I've learned that I'll be applying in the game so it should be much better. I'll have more time on the field because I'm fitter now.”
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