CONAKRY (Guinea) - Seydou Legacy Atlethique Club (SLAC), a team that has featured in the last two editions of the Basketball Africa League (BAL), has been through a major transformation for the upcoming West Division Elite 16.

The Guinean champions have endured the departure of their long-term head coach Zeljko Zecevic who rejoined AS Sale of Morocco.

Although some key players have left, SLAC hope they can put all that behind them and face the realities and qualify for the BAL for the third time in a row.

Dane Miller was the heart and soul of SLAC over the past three seasons

SLAC's dependable Dane Miller, who was named to the 2023 All-BAL team, might not be part of the current squad, but the arrival of coach Paolo Povia gives SLAC hope.

The Conakry-based team are thinking big with the signing of former Cote d'Ivoire national team head coach Povia.

The Italian, who coached the Elephants of Cote d'Ivoire from 2018 to 2020, has joined SLAC with the aim of helping qualify for the next edition of the BAL. 

Povia, according to SLAC Basketball Club President Aboubakar Keita, brings with him years of experience that will help the team realize their set objectives this season.

Paolo Povia coached Cote d'Ivoire at the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup 

Keita revealed to FIBA.basketball that the Italian play-caller and the players have been working on strategies on how to plot their way to ensure that they grab one of the three tickets available in the West Division.

“Preparation is underway. The local team has been working and practicing very hard in order to get ready for the Elite16 battle. We have been working on our international players and I can confirm that our final roster has been given a boost,” the club’s helmsman stated.

To give a bite to the team, SLAC have engaged the services of Marcus Gilbert and Zaid Hearst to mention a few.

Hearst is an American-Nigerian who will be ready to give his all to ensure that SLAC makes the right impact. Recently he played at Chalon-Champagne (Pro B, France) and evolved to the club Heros de Falcons (Venezuela) in 2023.

While SLAC have based their preparation in a mix of practice and friendly games in Conakry, Keita says he is confident that the team will be ready. “We hope to gather the whole team (including the foreign players) and get everyone on the same page before the Elite 16 begins,” Keita noted.

SLAC reached the 2022 BAL Quarter-Finals in their first appearance in the league

SLAC defeated Bafing Mamou 83-66 to win the domestic league and qualified for the third time in a row for the Elite 16 round. 

SLAC have been drawn is in Group B of the East Division Elite 16 (31 October - 5 November in Yaounde) alongside Bangui Sporting Club (Central African Republic), ABC Fighters (Cote d’Ivoire) and FUS Rabat (Morocco).

Each team will play the other three teams in their group, and the teams that finish in the top two places of the group will advance to the Second Round to compete in the Semi-Finals.

The winners of the Semi-Finals and winners of the Third-Place Games will qualify for the fourth edition of the BAL.   

FIBA