Bolt looking to prove himself in first start tomorrow

Sprint superstar Usain Bolt looks set to make his first start as a professional footballer Friday, a challenge he said could determine if he has a future in the sport of his boyhood dreams.

Bolt said the coach of his Central Coast Mariners, Mike Mulvey, had indicated he would be in the starting line-up in a friendly against Macarthur South West United in Sydney.

"For me, that's always a good step, when the coach is satisfied with your fitness to put you in the starting line up -- that's always a big step," Bolt told Mariners' club media Wednesday.

"I am just happy to get the chance and go out there and start, and do my best because that is the key thing."

Zia, Minhaz, Shakil win

GM Ziaur Rahman earned 5.5 points after the 8th round of the 1st Gujarat International Open Grandmasters' Chess Tournament in Ahmadabad yesterday, said a press release from the Bangladesh Chess Federation.

Zia beat WIM P V Nandhidha of India in this round. There were wins too for IM Minhaz Uddin and IM Abu Sufian Shakil, both of whom have five points each. Minhaz beat S Prasannaa of India while Shakil beat Tarun Kanyamarala of India.

FM Mehdi Hasan Parag and CM Ikramul Haq Siam earned 4.5 points each while FM Sheikh Nasir Ahmed earned four points.

Club Brugge coach arrested

Club Brugge coach Ivan Leko, whose team is playing in the Champion's League, was one of several Belgian football figures arrested on Wednesday, a source close to the investigation said.

The headquarters of Club Brugge, Standard Liege, Anderlecht and KRC Genk, the current leader of the Belgian Premier League, were searched in the operation, the source said, confirming information from the Belgian media.

Bonucci would like to coach Juventus

Juventus defender Leonardo Bonucci says he has settled his dispute with Massimiliano Allegri and would like to emulate his head coach by taking charge of Juventus in future.

"My dream is to become an important coach of a great team, possibly Juventus," Bonucci told Corriere dello Sport.

"So, I'm observing and putting aside all the secrets of the various coaches that I have had to try to get the best out of myself."

Messi to star in Cirque du Soleil show

Barcelona and Argentina star Lionel Messi's stellar career will be the subject of a new Cirque du Soleil show next year, the five-time world player of the year said Wednesday.

"I am proud to announce the creation of a new Cirque du Soleil show in 2019 based on the story of my life and passion for football," said Messi, whose Instagram feed showed him clad in a T-shirt of the Canadian troupe famed for their extravagant shows.

Messi had Monday posted a video of himself wearing the shirt and juggling what appeared to be a red clown nose.

Cirque du Soleil said on their website that they were thrilled to confirm the link-up with Messi, 31.