Usain Bolt has blamed his failed spell in the A-League on the poor quality of the competition and admitted signing for Central Coast Mariners was 'a mistake'.
The track and field legend completed a shock move to the Mariners four years ago as he pursued his dream to play soccer professionally after quitting athletics in 2017.
The Jamaican played two pre-season games for Central Coast and even found the back of the net twice, but quit his trial in November 2018 after rejecting a one-season deal.
'I made a mistake,' Bolt said in an interview ahead of last month's UNICEF Soccer Aid charity match.
'When I retired from track and field, I didn’t want to stay in Europe because of the media. I went to Australia, but the level of football there wasn’t good. I should have stayed in Europe.
'After a year of trials I just said, you know what, let’s just move on from that. So I moved on.'
At the time of Bolt's departure from the Mariners, financial reasons were highlighted as the main factor behind his decision to leave the A-League.
The Mariners had reportedly tabled an $150,000-a-year offer, a world away from the $3million sum Bolt's agent was understood to be looking for.
For his part, the eight-time Olympic medallist admitted he had found professional soccer harder than he had expected as he reflected on his experience at the Mariners.
His stance, however, significantly changed two years ago when he lamented not 'getting a fair chance' during his trial with Central Coast. Bolt's most recent remarks upped the ante even further and prompted a swift backlash from several Australian soccer pundits.
'This is laughable from Usain Bolt,' Fox Sports News football reporter James Dodd tweeted.
'I was there reporting and watching his training sessions at the Mariners. He was garbage. He’s a Sunday league footballer at very best and not a good one either.'
SEN and 10 Football host Simon Hill added: 'Well, it certainly wasn’t good when he was playing, that’s for sure.
'Brilliant athlete, but nowhere near a pro footballer. Thank goodness these sorts of PR stunts are long gone.'
A-League journalist Sacha Pisani struck a similar tone, joking Bolt 'thinks he's Cristiano Ronaldo'.
Bolt's spell with the Mariners may have briefly catapulted the A-League into the spotlight, but it was ultimately an ill-advised move for all the interested parties.
SMHellas
0
If anyone watched anything of his time at the Mariners they will be amazed he stayed there as long as he did and wasn't booted from the club after a couple of days. And yet he was offered a decent contract which was not based on football ability because he has none. Great revisionist version of events champ, keep your head in the sand and keep thinking you could have played at the top level. Anyone who saw you play knows you are at a lower standard than players in Scottish division 3
GRAVITY0307
0
I do not judge someone more especially when it's his first or second attempt at something. Even those in it are struggling. I would rather pity those who sticks their nose to mock others as if they're on top of every endeavor in their lives. MORE GREASE TO YOUR ELBOWS BOLT!🙏🙏🙏
Yumbcnrstu
0
Stick to running dude. Football is not your thing.
FaithEvans
0
Saw him in a charity game, his first touch was like a ball bouncing off trampoline. Terrible.
Natanya_Barrett
0
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 i just saw the News headline and i remember i saw him kick a ball once. then i asked myself how he even got to the Australian A league in the first place.
it's because of his fame and reputation which is just ridiculous but money talks nowadays he took the a space and weekly salary of someone who actually deserved it... he should've sticked to athletics or go into commentary or something🤷🏼♀️
Natanya_Barrett
1
I can't believe he has the audacity to criticize the Australian league lol I saw that guy playing in jamaica before he retired they were showing him on our news playing with some Sunday league players and I was flabbergasted they even allowed him to kick the ball because he was sh#$ we all were like "wtf is he even trying?" I saw him playing in the Australian league once and imo he's not even at sunday league quality he's rubbish they're a large amount of young talented way better players who can't even get a shot or a chance to go pro and this man got the chance even tho he's clearly not good enough and is talking down on the league when in actuality he's the one who's atrocious lol unbelievable
Bekackouyz
1
lol it's true it isn't anything like the premier league as that's where any good Aussie heads to...but it's funny that he wasn't good enough to even get a look in as he was pretty rubbish...was a good attempt at a new career but unfortunately he wasn't talented enough with the ball
Miockmnt
3
poor quality and yet you can't get in🤣🤭🤪😜😭😂😲😄
hoscdlmotz
2
Messi would love those qualities Lzy
Rajarshi_Ch
0
Bolt to ManU . Here we go!
Fandinrtz
1
Bolt is a joker
samediokon
1
I guess the bolt got loosed 😂
Ibe7
1
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 i just saw the News headline and i remember i saw him kick a ball once. then i asked myself how he even got to the Australian A league in the first place.
make your name shine all over the world... then and only then you will stop wondering how he got in the Australian League 🤪
Cuuacdno
2
man united should go for this man am sure he will fit
bigbukzo
5
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 i just saw the News headline and i remember i saw him kick a ball once. then i asked myself how he even got to the Australian A league in the first place.