Bolt working hard to prepare for soccer game

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Sprint superstar Usain Bolt has admitted Tuesday that he is struggling with the tempo of professional soccer but is working hard to raise his fitness levels ahead of his first trial match this week.

The eight-time Olympic champion has been given an opportunity by Australia's Central Coast Mariners to fulfil his dream of a soccer career and has been training with the rest of the squad at the team's base in the town of Gosford, 75 kilometers north of Sydney, on Tuesday.

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The 32-year-old admitted to struggling with the constant stop-start of football, "The most challenging thing for me is the stop and go because I'm not used to picking up speed, going back down, then back again."

"It's all about practicing and getting used to the system. I have time so will just learn the ways and keep pushing," said Bolt.

The Mariners hope to turn Bolt into A-League material in time for the start of the 2018/19 season in late October, with the club saying he can stay indefinitely to prove his credentials and earn a playing contract.

They have a pre-season friendly on Friday against an amateur side and Bolt is expected to get his first taste of a competitive game, but only as a substitute.

The Jamaican dominated sprinting since taking double individual gold at the Beijing Olympics in 2008.

He went on to win a further six Olympic gold medals and pick up 11 world titles before retiring last year and pursing his real passion – soccer.

He remains the world record holder for 100 meters.

Source(s): AFP