Usain Bolt says he isn’t fazed by potential criticism from opposing supporters or the media, after a cameo appearance off the bench for Central Coast Mariners.

The Jamaican track legend played just over 20 minutes for the Mariners in a 6-1 win over a Central Coast select side in Gosford on Friday.

Admitting to some early nerves, Bolt said he enjoyed every minute. It was something of a mixed cameo from the former eight-time Olympic and 11-time world sprint champion.

Both Bolt and Mariners’ coach Mike Mulvey rated his performance as OK, though pundits such as former Socceroo Mark Bosnich stressed the former athlete still had a lot of work to do.

Playing as a winger and striker, he got a few touches, came close to scoring in stoppage time and was confident enough to run at opposing defenders. But Bolt was clearly short of peak fitness and sometimes lost possession and didn’t always read where his teammates passes were going.

Bolt said fitness apart, his movement off the ball was the aspect he most needed to improve. “Knowing and understanding where I should be when the ball is played to the wing or inside and on defence, it’s all about the movement,” he said.

While he received a rapturous reception from the crowd of just under 10,000, Bolt recognised he could get a rougher ride elsewhere in a country where sledging is an art from and a staple at sporting venues.

“Home games I don’t have to worry about that, I think maybe away games will be a little bit different,” he said. “But for me I’m used to stuff like that, also from competitors and the media.”

Although he has switched to football at the relatively late age of 32, Bolt stressed running hadn’t taken as great a toll of his body, as playing a contact sport would have done.



“We don’t have the contact [in football], so I don’t think it’s hard on my body, so I’m good for five years,” Bolt said with a chuckle. “I’m in good shape and feeling young.”

Bolt expected to be at his best in around four months and was confident of signing a contract with the Mariners by that point.

Mulvey said: “The comments I made on the very first press conference [after Bolt arrived] was that I’ll give him 12 months if required, and I’ve already heard that he’s said ‘give me four months to get fit,’ so we’ll see.”