SOL BAMBA’S wife Chloe has released a heartbreaking statement after he tragically lost his battle with cancer.
The father-of-three’s death aged 39 was confirmed yesterday after he was taken ill while working for Turkish side Adanaspor on Friday.
Bamba was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin lymphoma in 2021 while at Cardiff but managed to return to the field for the Bluebirds after being declared cancer-free following chemotherapy.
He had three children – Roonea, Lily and Amy – with wife Chloe, who paid tribute to the popular former defender.
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.”
Bamba became ill before a game against Manisa BBSK and later died in hospital.
A statement from Adanaspor posted on Saturday night read: “Our Technical Director Souleymane Bamba, who fell ill before the Manisa Football Club match played yesterday, was taken to Manisa Celal Bayar University Hospital and unfortunately lost his battle for life there. Our condolences to his family and our community.”
Sol Bamba was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma on Christmas Eve 2020 before undergoing four months of chemo.
He told Mail Sport in 2022: “After the first chemo I was down for four days.
“I could not get out of bed. I lost weight. After that, I told my missus, ‘I’m not going for the second round’. The way I was, in that moment, it was awful.”
But the defender quickly rose to the occasion and was lauded for raising awareness of the disease as he battled it head on.
Speaking to the Guardian in November last year he said: “The way I went about it, people gave me praise … it was too much.
“That’s just what I’m like. I understand some people prefer to shy away from it, but I’m different. I’m just being myself.
“Even clubs now are being careful now when they do medical checks, all the way from Premier League to League Two, which is massive. In our game we talk about injuries but you never think about cancer.”
Bamba was given the all-clear in May 2021, but said he still had to be “careful”, paying regular visits to the doctor.
“Unfortunately when you’ve had cancer once, you always have to double check and make sure it doesn’t come back,” he continued. “Is it behind me 100%? Well, I wish but you never know.”
Incredibly, he returned to playing football just five months after his diagnosis.
At the time of his comeback, he said: “When I was going through chemo, I never thought for one minute I would come back and play. And I never thought about scoring penalties at Old Trafford – nights like that seemed a million miles away.”
Bamba was a beloved figure in English football after spells with` Leeds, Middlesbrough and Leicester.
He played in the Premier League with Cardiff in the 2018-2019 season after winning the Championship runner-up trophy with the club.
Cardiff said Bamba was a “club legend” and his death brought them the “deepest sadness”.
The wrote: “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.”
Leeds said in a post on X: “Everyone at #LUFC is devastated to learn of the news that former #LUFC captain Sol Bamba has passed away.
“Our thoughts and condolences are with his family and friends at this tragic time. Rest in peace, Sol, you will be forever in our hearts.”
Middlesbrough said: “We are devastated to learn of the passing of Sol Bamba at the age of 39.
“Our thoughts are with Sol’s family and friends at this time.”
Bamba was born in France but made 46 appearances for the Ivory Coast – the country of his parents’ birth.
After playing he stayed with football and moved into management as an assistant manager with Cardiff in 2023.
