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The Jamaican's hopes of winning a professional
contract in the Australian top flight will be tested on Friday
when the Mariners play an amateur select side at their sleepy
base in Gosford, north of Sydney. [nL3N1VJ1PB]
The pre-season match will be televised live by a local
broadcaster and could draw over 12,000 paying fans to the
Mariners' home stadium, where they can expect fireworks, a DJ
and at least a cameo appearance from the athletics superstar.
Once the entertainment makes way for the sport, Bolt can expect
to face a set of willing opponents bent on making their own
impression in front of a prime-time audience.
"Everyone's buzzing. Most of the guys wouldn't have played in
front of a big crowd like this before, myself included,"
34-year-old skipper Page, a former groundsman at the local
soccer association, told Reuters by telephone.
"Obviously playing against the big fellow, you know, it'll be
interesting to see how that goes.
"If he wants to make it at this level, no one's going to take it
easy on him. I don't envisage any of the boys pulling out (of a
tackle). But I don't think anyone will be dirty, either. It'll
be a really good natured game."
Eight-times Olympic gold medalist Bolt had his first training
with the A-league team only a week ago and said he expected to
feel "nerves" at the trial match.
He has admitted he lacks fitness and is still struggling with
the "stop and go" nature of football. [nL3N1VJ1PB]
With speed his obvious asset, the 32-year-old has trained as a
left winger and will hope to get on the pitch for the last 15-20
minutes.
Marking the speedster could be a challenge but the amateurs'
coach Chris Ackerley said he had the perfect man for the job at
right back -- a "thick-set lad" by the name of Bryce Fielder
from local champions Killarney District FC.
"I think Usain Bolt will know he's been in a game, especially if
he gets a few tackles in on him because Bryce has got tree-trunk
thighs," said Ackerley, whose father Stan captained Australia's
national Socceroos side in the 1960s.
Bolt may also meet a fellow Caribbean in 45-year-old forward
Keith Gumbs, who played over 100 times for the tiny island
nation of St. Kitts & Nevis.
Bolt's open-ended trial with the Mariners has been dismissed as
a publicity stunt by skeptics but there were few detractors in
Ackerley's squad.
"He’s greatness personified," said Page. "He’s (Floyd)
Mayweather, Michael Jordan, (Muhammad) Ali.
"It’s similar to Michael Jordan with the baseball. If anyone
deserves an opportunity it’s someone that knows what it takes to
get to the very top of their field."
(Editing by Peter Rutherford)
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