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FBL-AUS-ASIA
Bolt and Honda bolster A-League interest
SYDNEY, Oct 18, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Usain Bolt and Keisuke Honda are the
Australian A-League’s high profile poster boys as the competition aims to
reverse dwindling ticket sales and tumbling TV ratings when it returns on
Friday.
Football chiefs are hoping the arrival of big names like sprint star Bolt
will perk up interest after a slump in recent years and title hopefuls
Melbourne Victory look a strong candidate to defend their title.
There is no guarantee eight-time Olympic champion Bolt will even take the
field after being offered the chance to train with the Central Coast Mariners
in his bid to become a professional footballer.
He is yet to lock down a contract and will not feature in their opening
game away to Brisbane Roar on Sunday.
But his sheer presence has been enough to generate significant added
interest in the competition and a club that finished bottom of the ladder
last season.
The Mariners, who have lacked a genuine goal scorer in recent years, are
hoping to fare better this time round. Along with Bolt, they have enticed
Aston Villa striker Ross McCormack on a loan deal, who will partner Socceroos
marksman Tommy Oar up front.
McCormack, a Scottish international who has also played for Rangers and
Fulham, scored 14 goals in just 17 appearances for Melbourne City during a
similar loan spell last season.
“I really want to be a part of something,” he said. “We need to get the
Mariners back up the table, where they belong.”
Kevin Muscat’s Victory — four-time champions — are the team to beat after
edging Newcastle Jets 1-0 to win the final last year.
Ominously they have recruited Japan’s former AC Milan striker Honda — one
of the highest profile names in Asian football — to lead their line.
The talismanic 32-year-old had been a free agent since departing Mexican
club Pachuca.
Swedish international Ola Toivonen, who like Honda played at the World Cup
in Russia, has also been signed by Victory, who have a blockbuster derby
clash against Melbourne City on Saturday.
“Winning is the objective, we’ll work out a way that is going to best suit
us and in the Victory manner, I want it to be exciting, I want it to be
attacking,” said Muscat.
Sydney FC, under new coach Steve Corica who took over after Graham Arnold
left to become the new Socceroos boss, travel to Adelaide United for their
season opener.
Their attacking stocks have been boosted by the arrival of former Bolton
Wanderers centre-forward Adam Le Fondre, who takes the place of the prolific
Bobo who netted 27 times in 28 games for the Sky Blues last season.
In other games, Wellington Phoenix host the Jets and Perth Glory take on
Western Sydney Wanderers.
BSS/AFP/FI/ 0810 hrs