Will Usain Bolt make the grade in football?
That’s anybody’s guess but at least local football fans will soon get to see the world’s fastest man giving it a red hot go right here in Campbelltown.
Central Coast Mariners, the team that’s given Bolt an opportunity to see if he can make the grade in soccer, will play an A-League pre-season match on Friday, October 12 at Campbelltown Sports Stadium.
The Mariners will play a South West National Premier League Invitational team at 7.30pm, with gates open from 6.30pm.
The game is a coup for Campbelltown Sports Stadium showcasing one of the few opportunities for the public to see Bolt’s skills in a bid to win an A-League contract, in a full trial match capacity.
Campbelltown Sports Stadium has recently showcased a number of A-League and Asian Champions League matches.
But more importantly there’s a very good chance it could also become the home ground of a future Macarthur South West Sydney A-League team from 2019.
The Football Federation Australia board is expected to decide by October 31 which two bids will be chosen to join the expanded A-League from the 2019-20 season.
Campbelltown Mayor, Cr George Brticevic, said watching Bolt, an eight-time Olympic gold medallist, play his final A-League pre-season game in Campbelltown before the start of the regular season would be a great opportunity for football fans and the entire community.
[social_quote duplicate=”no” align=”default”]“This game is a chance to showcase that our community supports an A-League team playing at Campbelltown Sports Stadium and highlights the merits of our combined Macarthur South West Sydney A-League bid for an A-League licence,’’ he said.[/social_quote]
“It will also showcase that our stadium is an ideal home for an A-League side and it is already a proven venue to host these fixtures.
“If our bid for a Macarthur South West Sydney A-League team is successful, our community can expect to watch over 14 A-League games played at Campbelltown Sports Stadium.’’
Cr Brticevic said watching Bolt play at Campbelltown Sports Stadium would also inspire local football players, fans and children as well as his legion of fans around the world.
In 2017, Campbelltown Sports Stadium hosted Western Sydney Wanderers Asian Champions League group stage matches and has regularly hosted A-League, W-League and FFA Cup matches since 2012.
Tickets for the Mariners/Bolt preseason trial match are priced from $10 and available through Ticketek.
