CONCACAF boss, Victor Montagliani, says Jamaica’s football needs an influential figure as monumental as that of sprint sensation Usain Bolt to possibly drive the sport on the island and even region-wise.

The Canadian, who in May took the reins of the scandal-hit confederation which governs football in North and Central America and the Caribbean, was speaking against the backdrop of Bolt’s historic and sensational ‘triple-triple’ at the recent Rio Olympic Games.

Bolt’s three Rio gold medals in the 100m, 200m and 4X100m, completed his third consecutive hat-trick of gold medals at the Olympics starting in Beijing in 2008, followed by London in 2012.

“I guess the key now is to find, from a Jamaican football perspective, a Usain Bolt in the midst which would propel the game, not only in Jamaica, but propel it also in the region. But he (Bolt) is a phenomenon for sure,” Montagliani told the

Jamaica Observer shortly after his sojourn to Brazil.

He notes that Bolt’s larger-than-life attitude, mixed with an infectious down-to-earth spirit, gives him global appeal and a symbol of inspiration across generational divides.

“He’s a phenomenon, Usain Bolt… he’s a showman, but he does it in a very humble way and I think that is what endears him to the world as he doesn’t do it in an arrogant way, and I think it will perhaps be difficult to replace a guy like that within the Olympic movement,” Montagliani noted.

Jamaica’s Reggae Boyz, languishing third on three points in Group B of CONCACAF World Cup qualifiers, need victories against Panama on Friday away and Haiti in Kingston four days later to revive hopes in their Russia 2018 campaign.

The Canadian Soccer Association (CSA) president said he was also moved by Bolt’s apparent influence on his countryman Andre De Grasse, who is tipped to succeed the Jamaican sensation, who announced that Rio is his final Olympic romp.

“We are also proud of our own Canadian sprinter who came second in the 200m and third in the 100m, who is probably looking to replace him (Bolt) on the international field and they appear to have a close friendship as well,” said Montagliani.

On the football front, the FIFA vice-president said he enjoyed double joy when the Canadian women’s team defended their Olympic bronze from London four years ago.

Montagliani said he celebrated the accomplishment as head of the CSA and as president of the governing CONCACAF. He also saluted the effort of Honduras on the men’s side who narrowly missed bronze after losing 2-3 to Nigeria.

“It was satisfying obviously to have my own country win another bronze, but I also believe that Honduras performed fantastically well and were unlucky not to have won a medal,” he stated.

Defending women’s gold medallists the USA, the most successful at the Olympic Games, failed for the first time to make the semi-final medal frame.

And another CONCACAF giant, Mexico and defending men’s gold medallists, shockingly exited at the preliminary stage.

“The US and Mexico who were expected to do better under their accord and were probably disappointed, and I share that disappointment, but the Olympic Games, just like World Cups, will always have some surprises.

“I am very thrilled from a soccer perspective by the performance put on by our women and also for CONCACAF to win a medal is always a positive thing and that sets the benchmark for us to follow in years to come.

“I was surprised by the USA national team as they have been the best in the world for a long time and the expectations, by many, are that they would always get to a final, but they are probably more disappointed than anybody else,” Montagliani expressed.

But the CONCACAF head honcho believes both nations have the depth to rally back to the top.

“I am sure they (the USA) will bounce back with regard to their successes as they have quite a pipeline of players. I think Mexico are probably disappointed in their campaign having been defending champion of the gold medal not being able to get out of the group stage, but the talent level of the Mexicans is probably second to none,” he noted.

Canada women had clipped hosts Brazil 2-1 for the bronze medal, while they copped gold by edging Sweden in a three-goal finish.

Brazil, inspired by Neymar, ended their gold medal drought on the men’s side, defeating Germany 5-4 in a nerve-wracking penalty lottery after a 1-1 regulation and extra time draw.