Central Coast Mariners CEO Shaun Mielekamp says Usain Bolt has prioritised football, and his ambition to play professionally, as the main factors behind his decision to trial at the A-League side.
The Mariners made the official announcement yesterday that Bolt will be taking part in an ‘indefinite training period’ to fulfil his ambition of becoming a professional footballer.
Mielekamp revealed the champion Olympian knocked back significantly more lucrative offers before agreeing to trial with the Mariners.
“Our first conversation with him and his agents was this has got to be a footballing decision first,” he told SEN Afternoons
“If he’s legit and real in this, then we’re going to treat him like a footballer, we want to make sure he doesn’t come with an entourage, this isn’t a gimmick, he’s going to live on the Central Coast, he’s going to be treated just like any other player.
“We were kind of expecting at that stage that that was when it was going to break down.
“But that’s what started to appeal to him – he generally wants to and has an ambition to become a professional footballer, wants to be given every opportunity to do that, and he really warmed and responded to that.
“He knocked back some very significant offers in Austin, Texas and in Turkey alike, who were far more appealing commercially.”
We’re set to welcome @usainbolt to @CCMariners for an indefinite training period. Let’s hear from the world’s fastest man.
— Central Coast Mariners (@CCMariners) August 7, 2018
Read more ⚡ https://t.co/kOtlPUPWz8 #CCMFC pic.twitter.com/LsSxYLSbhl
The Central Coast chief spoke of the enormous upside the 31-year-old could bring to the club if his trial is successfully passed.
“For us, I simply said we’ll keep every opportunity open and if he can play, then why wouldn’t we (sign him),’ Mielekamp added.
“Not much has really changed from that aspect, so the journey has continued along that way.
“If you were to tell me that there was a 6’8 absolute fast flying machine that was untapped and unrecognised, would you have a look at him?
“Why wouldn’t you have a look at him, at least to see what he's got?
“First and foremost, if he can contribute to the team and get to a level that the coach feels can help us win games, then fantastic, that’s great.
“There’s a real opportunity for the club to grow substantially; we are the smallest club in the A-League and the amount of sponsorship support and exposure that this could bring for us long term means we could be talking about the Bolt effects for many years to come.
“That’s too big of an opportunity to just dismiss on the surface without giving it a good crack.”
Listen to Central Coast CEO Shaun Mielekamp's chat on SEN Afternoons with Andy Maher in the player below