Summary Usain Bolt hopes to play in a friendly against the Norway Under-19 team next week.
DRAMMEN (AFP) - Usain Bolt hopes to play in a friendly against the Norway Under-19 team next week as part of his ongoing bid to become a professional footballer and prepare for his Old Trafford debut in a charity match.
The 31-year-old eight-time Olympic gold medallist took part in training on Thursday with Norwegian top-tier club Stromsgodset at Drammen,40km (25 miles) south-west of Oslo, as part of his week-long stay.
It is the latest part of Bolt s on-going bid to become a professional footballer after the Manchester United fan also trained with Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund in March.
He is set to play at United s iconic Old Trafford stadium in a Soccer Aid charity match on June 10 when he captains a World XI against an England celebrity team led by singer Robbie Williams.
Before that, the retired sprint king hopes to get on the pitch in Stromsgodset s friendly against the Norwegian Under-19 side on Tuesday.
"If I can get a couple of minutes, that would be good," Bolt told reporters, sweating heavily after the training session.
"I m here to try to get fit for the charity game in Manchester next weekend.
"Getting a few minutes on a full pitch would be good for me.
"They are very good at passing. The standard is very good here, the game is high tempo.
"The more comfortable I get here, the more I will relax, but everyone has been cool and welcoming."
According to reports, Bolt has been given the shirt number 9.58 -- his world record time for the 100 metres set in Berlin in 2009 -- to wear during his stay.
Stromsgodset are struggling -- 12th of the 16 teams in Norway s Eliteserien top league -- and he has some advice.
"Just play better, I guess," he said with a laugh.
"It s all about the work and sometimes about a bit of luck, as the seasons goes, on you always improve, so hopefully they ll get better and fitter."
Stromsgodset s sports director Jostein Flo has said he wants to give Bolt a chance in the forthcoming friendly and the squad was surprised to find the world s fastest man in their dressing room.
"We had no idea before he walked through the door, that was awesome," goalkeeper Espen Bugge Pettersen told Norwegian daily Dagbladet.
"He is a bit rusty, in his current form he won t add value, but we will have to give him some time."
Forward Marcus Pedersen said the Jamaican s pace was obvious.
"We haven t seen so much of his footballing skills yet, but he obviously outpaces anyone around here," said the Norway international.
While Bolt s dalliance with football has yet to lead to a contract, the head of Stromsgodset s supporters club was delighted to see the world s fastest man at training.
"It brings joy to the fans and that is a relief after a few bad rounds in the league," said Stromsgodset supporter Thor Arne Hanssen.
