The Commonwealth Games starts in July.

A coach with the Athletics Federation of Nigeria, AFN, Yusuf Ali, has said the nation’s athletics contingent to 2014 Commonwealth Games needs more preparation to excel in the games.

Mr. Ali said this on Saturday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos.

Nigeria has 73 athletes in camp, ahead of the 2014 Glasgow Games scheduled to hold from July 23 to Aug. 3.

The former quarter miller said the second phase of camping had just ended, adding that there would be a competition at Ijebu Ode to further prepare the athletes.

“We just finished the second phase of our training, but by next Saturday, we will start our competition in Ijebu Ode.

“From there, we will gear up for the Golden League competition which will give us a peep into what to expect from the athletes.

“I can’t asses our athletes now until we test their abilities.

“It will be difficult as we have a long way to go. We will ensure that they get all the support they need,” Ali said.

(NAN)