Usain Bolt completes first training day with Central Coast Mariners

Olympic legend Usain Bolt is at Central Coast Stadium. You’re tempted to say, “Man, what are you doing here?”

Usain Bolt at his first training session for the Central Coast Mariners. Picture: AAP

Olympic legend Usain Bolt is at Central Coast Stadium. You’re tempted to sit at the bar, put bread in his jar and say, “Man, what are you doing here?”

One of the greatest athletes in history is unfathomably nervous. He’s trying to win a contract to play in Australia’s A-League football competition and it’s giving him the jitters. He completes a training session with the Central Coast Mariners that is little more than a glorified photo opportunity, and then vows to prove wrong the critics who think his latest career move is a joke.

“It’s just like track and field,” the eight-time Olympic sprints champion says. “The first day of training is always the toughest. But it felt OK. We’re taking it a step at a time. Level by level, day by day, and then I will push myself. As long as you get fit in football, it’s relatively easy.

“As long as I get my body in shape and get some mileage into my legs, I should be fine. I’m a professional footballer now.”

He’s jumped the gun there. The world’s fastest man will become a professional footballer only if the Mariners offer him an A-League deal for the upcoming season. It’s not guaranteed despite the vast marketing, sponsorship and crowd-pulling benefits. His first trial match will be at the end of the month, but the consensus now is that the 32-year-old, whose birthday was yesterday, is kidding himself by wanting to live his childhood dream by becoming a full-time footballer.

Bravo for the effort, though. And the lack of ego that allows an Olympic legend to base himself at Gosford, starting from scratch at a new sport and risking the whole thing becoming a very public, and very humiliating, failure.

“I don’t want to be treated like the world’s fastest man,” he says. “I’ve still got to respect the rules, ­respect the coach, respect the rules the Mariners put down. For me, I’m going to try enjoy it as much as possible, but I’m here to do a job and I’m ready to go. It’s just another opportunity for me to prove people wrong. I’m here. I don’t care what people say.”

Mariners coach Mike Mulvey said it might take a year to turn Bolt into a professional footballer. “We’re absolutely delighted that Usain has chosen our club, this great community … to further his ambition,” Mulvey said. “If it takes 12 months, I’ll say that out loud, I’m happy for him to be here. He’s already brought the biggest throng of media to this area.”

Mulvey has nominated a Mariners’ trial against a local selection on August 31 as Bolt’s likely first appearance in a serious match. “You don’t lower your standards when Usain Bolt walks in the door,” he said. “This guy is a winner. Eight gold medals. Now you don’t just to do that by having great ability, you do that by having great mental ­capacity.

“If he can pass on a little bit of that to my players, who I’m saying are coming from the cellar trying to get to the top, this can be great for any of our young lads that we’ve signed. They’re thinking, ‘How far can he take me on my journey?’ The glare was on him at training. He wouldn’t be human if he didn’t have any nerves.”

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