Usain Bolt was wary of calling himself a professional footballer following a two-goal performance in his maiden start for Central Coast Mariners, a 4-0 friendly win over Macarthur South West on Friday.
Calls for the eight-time Olympic champion sprinter to be offered a contract are growing, and while Bolt said he was pleased with his improvement he refused to label himself a pro yet.
“Until I sign, I am not saying that,” he said after the match. “When we will sit down with the club, we will sit down and discuss that if we want to move forward and what I need to do and how we can do it.
“I’m taking it one step at a time. I’m here to prove to the world that I can be a footballer and I can push myself and see how far I can go.
“I’ll always give time to the Mariners for giving me the opportunity to prove myself to the world. I’m just excited to take it step by step and move forward.”
After making an exit from the match shortly after the 70-minute mark, Bolt spent the rest of the night signing autographs and posing for photos with supporters at Campbelltown Stadium in Sydney.
His opening goal garnered international attention, repaying the Central Coast club for taking the gamble to bring him to Australia on a trial basis.
Mariners CEO Shaun Mielekamp was thrilled with the outcome of the friendly match but said it would not change the process.
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