Women’s World Cup 2019: Jamaica coach makes Usain Bolt A-League joke on eve of Matildas clash

While calling Usain Bolt ‘a massive role model’, it doesn’t sound like Jamaica’s women’s coach will be taking any football tips from the legendary sprinter for the crunch clash with the Matildas.

Usain Bolt trialled for the Central Coast Mariners but didn’t get a deal.

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Andy Keogh once likened Usain Bolt’s first touch to a trampoline. Turns out he’s not alone.

The coach of Jamaica’s national women’s team has offered a similar appraisal of the world’s fastest man’s football skills.

Hours before his Reggae Girlz play the Matildas in their final Women’s World Cup Group C game, coach Hue Menzies was reminded of the time Bolt unsuccessfully trialled for the Central Coast Mariners.

Usain Bolt trialled for the Central Coast Mariners but didn’t get a deal.

Australian journalists couldn’t help but enquire as to whether, from his point of view, Bolt should have been offered a professional A-League contract.

“Somebody told me his first touch was so bad it took him to Australia,” Menzies joked, before taking on a more serious note.

“Usain’s a great role model. He came on Skype earlier and spoke to the girls. He’s a massive role model for our country. He wears the flag high.

“The respect I have for him is that he’s one of the few athletes who can easily train outside the country but chooses to train inside Jamaica and kept his roots.

“That’s something I really respect about him. He hasn’t changed from when he was 17 to where he is now.

“Him playing football, that’s his dream. He’s always been that way, he told me that personally, that he prefers football than track.

Jamaica have struggled against both Italy and Brazil thus far.

“I think he’s trying to live that life. I hope he gets on our bandwagon because he’s such a positive force and brings a lot of confidence to our group.”

In January this year, six months after declaring his dream was to play for boyhood club Manchester United, announced he will no longer pursue a career in football, saying “it was fun while it lasted”.

The 100m and 200m world record-holder had trained with multiple clubs including Borussia Dortmund and Norwegian side Stromsgodset.

The world No.53 Reggae Girlz are last in Group C with a goal difference of minus eight and, while still a mathematical possibility of making the last 16 at their maiden tournament if they beat the sixth-ranked Matildas and other results go their way, are highly unlikely to make the cut.

Regardless, Menzies was adamant that’s exactly what they’d be attempting to do.

“We’re going in to qualify, we’re going in to win the game, that’s why we’re here,” he said.

Jamaica coach Hue Menzies tries to get the message across to his players.

Menzies name-checked Sam Kerr as Australia’s biggest threat.

“I have huge respect for her,” he said.

“Their outside backs are lethal in services. They play down the flanks and we have to deal with that.”