Bolt has until January to showcase football skills

GOSFORD, Australia (AP):

Usain Bolt has a few more months to prove his football prowess in Australia.

Central Coast Mariners coach Mike Mulvey said yesterday that he will wait until January before assessing the progress of eight-time Olympic gold medalist sprinter Bolt, who's set to play in his next preseason match for the Mariners in mid-October.

Bolt, who hopes to earn an A-League contract with the team based north of Sydney, will likely play October 12 against Sydney league side Macarthur South West United. The Mariners begin the regular season on October 21 in Brisbane against the Roar.

"If I get to start it will be a big thing for me," Bolt said. "It shows that the work that I've been putting in since I've been here is really paying off and the coach has confidence in me and he sees the improvement and the work I've been putting in."

Bolt saw his first action for the Mariners on August 31, playing 20 minutes against a Central Coast selection side. He played the entire second half against the North Shore Mariners on September 19, when he again alternated between left wing and striker.

Mulvey said yesterday that Bolt was progressing.

"In the initial dispatches talked about he needed time, I said at the time we will give him 12 months if need be," Mulvey said.

"But I think a reasonable assumption would be around about Christmas time, January, we should be really judging on whether he's really improved or not improved. He's slowly getting there."