Usain Bolt Makes Professional Football Debut

Usain Bolt 

The world's fastest man has graced the football pitch in a professional capacity for the first time as Usain Bolt made his debut for A-League side Central Coast Mariners. 

On trial with the Australian club, Bolt came on in the 72nd minute of a friendly match against a Central Coast select side with the Mariners already leading 6-0.

A double from Jack Clisby plus goals from Peter Kekeris, Michael McGlinchey, Mario Shabow and Josh MacDonald allowed Bolt to come on under little pressure.

Though the opposition did score from a free-kick not long after he came on, Bolt was in the thick of the action as he was deployed on the left wing.

While there were a few heavy touches from the Jamaican, he was getting himself into some dangerous positions - twice denied headers from close range and was only inches away from a tap-in after 90 minutes.

It wasn't all smooth sailing for Bolt however, who was forced to take off a golden necklace a few minutes after coming on and was sweating profusely as the full-time whistle went. 

There's clearly still plenty of work to do for the 32-year-old if he is to earn an A-League contract, but time is on his side, with the Mariners vowing to give him as long as 12 months to get him up to speed.

Bolt himself revealing post-match just how long he'll need to perform at his peak on the football pitch.

"Probably four or five months... to get fit two months. Four months I'll be playing like one of the guys," Bolt told Fox Sports.

"It was good, it was what I expected. I was a bit nervous but as soon as I got on the field it went away.

"Looking forward to a great season. My fitness is much better. The more I play, listen and train the better I'll get.

"It's a wonderful moment to actually play professional football."  

The Mariners ultimately claiming a comfortable 6-1 win in Bolt's first appearance with a healthy and curiously numbered crowd of 9,958 watching on. 

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Ajimobi: 'Curses Can’t Affect Me Because I Am Doing The Right Thing'

Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi yesterday said he has served humanity very well, therefore, no matter the curse placed on him by anybody or group of persons, it will not affect him.

Speaking with journalists after the Eid el-Kabir celebration at Agodi Eid Ground, the governor, who opened up on the lessons he learnt in more than seven years as governor, said: “The lesson I learnt from the sojourn in the last seven years that we have been running the government is that one needs to fear God.”

Ajimobi vowed not allow the state to slide into a ‘banana republic’ or an animal farm. He said: “If one fears God, no matter the curses placed on him, such curse can never have effect on him. And if someone does what deserve curses and people pray for such an individual, the prayer cannot work for such a person.

“For me, no matter the curses, it can never affect me because I know I’m working for prayers and not curses. I’m serving the people wholeheartedly and I’m happy that God will give us success.”

Ajimobi further said when he took over the reins of government in 2011, he and his team met in the state “at precipice and we needed to have a turnaround. In turning it around, we decided to have our tripod of restoration, which is to restore the old glory.

“When you restore, you must transform. We have restored and we have transformed. And now, we are repositioning, and repositioning is always a work in progress. You can never stop repositioning. Wherever we stop, somebody else will pick it up from there.

“We’ve restored peace and security in Oyo State. Today, Oyo State is one of the safest states in Nigeria. Today, everybody can go through Iwo Road, Beere, Molete, Challenge. All these, hitherto, hot spots have now become very cool spots. All the red light areas are now the green light areas. So, for peace and security, we have achieved much.

“As a leader, anytime you want to make a change, some people, enlightened, unenlightened, ignorant, mischievous will play politics with it. But, a good leader must have the courage to go ahead. If you remember the great Prophet Mohammed, when he was talking about the Almighty God to the people, they sent him away from his hometown.

“So, anytime we, as leaders, heads of government are trying to make changes, people talk, but we forge ahead, no matter what they say. We will never allow this state to become a banana state. We will not allow it to be an animal farm. If you see any state that is doing well in the world, it is that they have rule of law and they obey them. Everybody must obey the law. So, we thank God that we succeeded because we have adhered to law and order.”

Simi Flaunts Engagement Ring As Fans React

Popular Singer Simi flaunt Engagement ring in new adorable photo she shared recently. Though everyone will thinking she's engaged to either Adekunle Gold or Falz.


See some fans reaction below 

"Buhari Is The Leader Of Miyetti Allah, The Terrorist Group" – Femi Fani-Kayode

Erstwhile Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani Kayode has reacted to the statement credited to Miyetti Allah on the fate of the Senate President, Bukola Saraki.

Femi Fani Kayode alleged on his verified Facebook page that Miyetti Allah is a terrorist organization lead and sponsored by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Ngige: N50,000 NYSC Monthly Allowance Increase Is False. No Increment Yet.

Minister for Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige has dismissed reports that the Federal Government was planning to increase the monthly allowance for youth corps members.

Rumours had been rife weeks ago that the Federal Government was planning to increase the monthly allowance from N19,800 to N50,000, but Ngige has said there’s no truth in it.

He said in a press briefing in Anambra that the Federal Government wouldn’t increase the allowance of corps members without first coming out with a minimum wage for the Nigerian workers.

“No recommendation has come to the Federal Executive Council on this. The NYSC pay is on the sliding scale; the same sliding scale with the national minimum wage except that there is a top up; what is called top up on the national minimum wage is to make for special transport allowance for members of the NYSC,” he said.

“That is why today, the national minimum wage is N18,000, and the top up for NYSC members is about N1,500 making it N19,500. This is what the Federal Government pays each corps member.

“For now, there is no figure before us as an increment and as a matter of fact, the last Federal Executive Council had mandated the Minister of Youths and Sports to liaise with the Director General of the NYSC so that he can be brought on board for us to work as a team,” the minister further stated.