S Poddar
The world of football has plunged into mourning following the death of former Ivory Coast defender Sol Bamba at the age of 39. While powerful and authoritative on the pitch, Bamba’s character was soft as wool, earning him praise off the pitch. Long after the records he has created in football are gone, his legacy lives on.
The 29-year-old Bamba had been working with the Turkish club Adanaspor and passed away on Saturday after being hospitalized. His battle with non-Hodgkin lymphoma was barely beaten just three years ago in 2021, a saga that showed his strength in overcoming adversity. He went back to work in football afterward but is now gone, leaving a void in the hearts of those he befriended both professionally and personally.
The Ivorian international enjoyed a glittering career and left his mark at Cardiff City, Leeds United, Leicester City, and Middlesbrough, among others. His spell in Cardiff City is very well remembered, especially when he played a crucial role in their promotion to the Premier League in the 2017-18 season, playing all 46 Championship games under manager Neil Warnock.
Tributes poured in from former teammates, managers, and football clubs as a picture has been painted of a man: a man who was not only an outstanding player but also a very cherished friend and mentor. Lee Peltier, his former teammate at Cardiff City, took to social media and expressed his sadness thus: “Love you brother. Rest easy my big brother-always there for me, will never forget.”
The thoughts of another ex-Cardiff player and manager, Mark Hudson: “We have shared stories and I loved our chats, however brief. My heart goes out to Sol’s family. I am devastated for you,” Hudson wrote.
Cyrus Christie, who played with Bamba at Middlesbrough, spoke of how much Bamba meant to him, particularly since he just started his managerial career. “Fly high brother, may your soul rest in peace. One of the nicest and humble guys to grace this game,” Christie said.
Junior Hoilett, who celebrated promotion to the Premier League with Bamba at Cardiff, simply said, “RIP Big Bro. Love Always,” showing just how good their bonding was.
Andy Campbell, another player to have represented Cardiff and Middlesbrough, called him “a genuinely gorgeous human being,” while Ipswich Town’s Sam Morsy, who played alongside him at Middlesbrough, called him “incredible,” adding, “one of the best I’ve shared a dressing room with.”
Bamba’s influence wasn’t confined to his teammates. The current Cardiff left-back Callum O’Dowda spoke heartbreakingly, saluting Bamba for his outlook on life being exemplary, even in the face of such great adversities. “Despite everything you went through, you epitomized the most positive outlook on life. A lesson I will hold forever,” shared O’Dowda.
Bluebirds’ goalkeeper Jak Alnwick similarly commented that he was “one of the nicest guys I’ve ever come across in football.” To Cardiff teammate Neil Etheridge, he could only remember Bamba as the one who treated him like a brother right from day one. “Always smiling, always so happy, always seeing the brighter side of life,” Etheridge wrote, adding that Bamba treated him as a brother even before they got to know each other.
Among the more emotive tributes was one by the manager who signed him for Cardiff, Neil Warnock: “I just can’t believe that I won’t see that beaming smile again. I’m so happy that Sol was part of my life and we had such brilliant memories together,” Warnock said, continuing, “Sol was a ray of sunshine, and I’ll miss him so much.”
Tributes have also been paid by football clubs around the world. Cardiff City, which he played for 118 times, called him a “hero” and said the impact he had at the club was “immeasurable”. Leeds United referred to him as “one of the nicest people in football.”
The FAW issued a statement regarding Bamba’s death as “devastated”. According to the latter, he was working on his UEFA Pro Licence in pursuit of a managerial career and was regarded for his positivity and love of the game.
Bamba’s wife, Chloe, took to social media with a message. “For the last few years I have watched Sol fight his cancer head on with an astounding mental and physical strength and stoicism,” she said. Chloe described how hard their journey had been but also much laughter in the middle of such a difficult experience. She spoke of her husband’s acceptance of his fate as God’s will, and underscored how deeply he was loved. “It was an honor to have loved and been loved by Sol. I learned so much from him. He’s my hero. My heart is breaking,” Chloe said.
The legacy of Sol Bamba is one of bravery, kindness, and uncompromisingly loving football. His soul will be enshrined in the hearts of those who knew him and the many lives he touched on his journey through life.
