Former 100m record holder Asafa Powell believes that Ghanaian athletes can achieve great success in their sports if they take full advantage of the limited facilities available to them.
The 40-year-old Jamaican athlete made this statement during his visit to Ghana as part of his tour in his wife’s home country.
Powell spoke to a group of athletes at the media centre of the Accra Sports Stadium, sharing his experiences as a world-class athlete and encouraging them to maximize the few facilities available to them in Ghana.
He said, “In Jamaica, we have fewer gymnasiums, however, we have to train with the fewer facilities provided to our advantage.”
“Getting to the world stage took a lot of time and dedication, it doesn’t matter where you are coming from, and you can also get there,” he said.
The former sprinter also urged young athletes to pay close attention to their health and avoid putting themselves in danger whenever they feel unwell.
“You need to listen and respond to your body every day. Do not force yourself to run with the slightest of injury you sustain because it can cost you, your entire career”
Mr Bawah Fuseini, General Secretary of the Ghana Athletics Association (GAA), expressed gratitude to Asafa Powell for providing athletes with the opportunity to meet the former World champion.
“Indeed it’s an honour to have Powell speak to these young athletes. I believe they have learnt a lot because they seem excited and we pray for more of these to happen to them.”
The Jamaican will also meet with athletics stakeholders to discuss ways to improve the sport in the country.
