Sol Bamba: ‘We talk about injuries but you never think about cancer’

Sol Bamba says his five years at Cardiff were his most treasured in the game. Photograph: Kieran McManus/Shutterstock

“I don’t think I deserved any credit, but it’s important to talk about it.” Sol Bamba never wanted sympathy but he’s never been particularly shy: whether it’s to lambast a teammate for a mistake, or howl no-holds-barred at his manager on the touchline; so why wouldn’t he talk about having cancer?

Bamba’s world was thrown into tumult when he was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma in January 2021. He had overcome plenty in his career to that point, but this was a challenge that would have floored many.