Former clubs mourn Sol Bamba

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Cardiff City have led the tributes to Sol Bamba, describing their former captain as a “club legend” and “true gentleman”.

Bamba, who also played for Leeds United, Middlesbrough and Leicester among others as well as earning 46 caps for Ivory Coast, died on Friday, aged 39.

His death was announced late Saturday by Turkish club Adanaspor, for whom Bamba was working as technical director.

An Adanaspor statement read: “Our technical director Souleymane Bamba, who fell ill before the match against Manisa on Friday, was taken to hospital and unfortunately lost his battle for life there. Our condolences to his family and our community.”

Bamba overcame non-Hodgkin lymphoma in 2021, resuming his playing career five months after his diagnosis.

A Cardiff statement read: “It is with the deepest sadness that we have learnt this evening about the passing of Club legend, Sol Bamba.

“As a player and coach, Sol’s impact on our football club was immeasurable. He was a hero to all of us, a leader in every dressing room and a true gentleman.

“Our thoughts are with his friends, family and everyone lucky enough to know and love Sol.”

Bamba also captained Leeds, who said the defender would “be forever in our hearts”.

Bamba’s widow Chloe later paid tribute to her husband on Instagram.

She wrote: “For the last few years I have watched Sol fight his cancer head on with an astounding mental and physical strength and stoicism.

“Unfortunately, it was never a fair fight and just when things were looking up he took a downturn and finally succumbed on 31st August.

“These years have been indescribably difficult but we still managed to find joy and laughter in it. I’ve experienced my worst days but also some of my best. Sol accepted his fate as God’s will and left this earth knowing, without a shadow of a doubt, that he was loved wholeheartedly. I made sure of that.

“It was an honour to have loved and been loved by Sol. I learnt so much from him. He is my hero. My heart is breaking. What a gift, what a gift, what a gift to have been loved by him.”



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