Let’s prepare well for 2018 C’Wealth Games - Azumah Nelson

Former boxing great Azumah Nelson has called on the various sports federations to ensure athletes train adequately to prepare for next year's Commonwealth Games in Australia.

Azumah explained that the only way to keep athletes in shape for gold in competitions is by training hard and called on all participating disciplines to quickly commence working out.

Team Ghana is certain to compete in next year's Games which is scheduled to take place in Gold Coast, Australia.

In an interview with the Daily Graphic at the launch of the 365 days countdown to the Commonwealth Games, Azumah said: “The athletes must start training as soon as possible if they are to stand a chance of winning gold for the country and I urge the federations to provide the necessary support for the athletes to prepare adequately.

"That is the only way the country can achieve medals at the games and I think it will be in the best interest of both athletes and the federations if training starts as soon as possible, that is, if they haven’t started training," he added.

Though disappointed that Ghana was yet to produce a world champion of his calibre in recent times, the 1978 Commonwealth Games gold medalist remained hopeful that a world champion from Ghana would be produced soon.

He said the nation “abound in talent but,  it is the nurturing of those talents, with poor infrastructure, that remains the bane” and urged  government meet its responsibility in that regard by providing the training facilities.