The Association Sportive de Kaloum (ASK), a renowned football club based in Conakry, Guinea, has experienced a positive turnaround in its performance this season, following recent reforms instituted by the new leadership on the Conakry peninsula.
One of the significant changes involved a shift in leadership, with the outgoing president, former president Baïdy Aribot, officially passing the torch to the new head, Bouba Sampil, on January 26. Aribot cited the incompatibility of functions due to his recent foray into politics as the reason for stepping down.
Upon assuming office, Bouba Sampil initiated a series of reforms aimed at revitalizing AS Kaloum. Notable among these efforts was the recruitment of new talent, with the appointment of a new sports director, Ali Touré, being one of the first steps. The new additions to the team included players with experience in Guinea’s national football team, such as Kémoko Camara, Kanfory Sylla, and Camara Ibrahima.
Reports suggest ongoing negotiations to bring in former internationals Alimou Diallo and Ibrahima Bangoura, who are currently without a club in Europe. The new leadership, now colloquially known as the “Galacticks,” aims to enlist the support of these seasoned players to restore the club’s former glory.
Bouba Sampil’s priorities include a swift climb up the Ligue 1 football rankings, the realization of a training center project within the next three years, and an immediate upgrade of the Kaloum Mission Stadium to meet required standards. This upgrade is expected to include the installation of a new-generation synthetic turf scheduled for March 2013.
Despite being at the bottom of the Ligue 1 football rankings with zero points, AS Kaloum has risen to the seventh position after the reforms, accumulating seven points in six days of competition. The club now sits seven points behind the current league leader, Horoya AC of Conakry.
