The hype is over now, Olympic sprint champion, Usain Bolt must earn his desired football career by proving his worth on the pitch.
And he gets that opportunity on Friday as he is set to start up front for the Central Coast Mariners in a trial match.
The Jamaican has admitted his future as a soccer player could be on the line.
The 32-year-old eight-time Olympic gold medalist is trying to transform himself from global athletics superstar to professional football player.
He hopes to win a contract for the Mariners ahead of the 2018-2019 Australian top-flight campaign.
His previous appearance for the first team was against an amateur select side on Aug. 31, where he came on as a substitute in the 72nd minute and appeared to lack match sharpness, the touch and skill required for a professional.
“This will determine … (what) the club want to do with my career, so it’s a very important game.
“I have been improving but you won’t know what level you’re at until you play a competitive game, so I just have to go out there and see what I need to do or whether I should continue or not.
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“I’m just pushing myself and have put in the work so now I have to go out there and execute,” Bolt said on Wednesday.
Bolt said that coach Mike Mulvey had told him he was likely to start the game on Friday against Macarthur South West United at Campbelltown Sports Stadium.
He would be deployed in a more forward role than on his initial appearance.
“He said he wants to play me up top. He just told me to make sure that I’m focused to push myself and just take my chances when I get them,” Bolt said.
Bolt added that he had been playing a series of practice games with other players hoping to make the first team squad and he felt that his fitness and skills had improved.
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