In an era at Leeds United where owners and managers came and went quicker than players at times, Sol Bamba was a rarity.
Bamba’s infectious smile and positive leadership galvanised a squad and fanbase that was far beyond jaded when he arrived in January 2015. For context on how recent that really was, he replaced Liam Cooper as captain early in his spell for a game in which Alex Mowatt scored the winner.
When I first read the news that Bamba had passed away, I didn’t know whether to believe it or not — the truth is that I really didn’t want to believe it. Bamba was the sort of character that Leeds fans love because he was always honest and unwavering in his beliefs. That bore out when he tore into Cellino and the club after his loan spell from Palermo ended in the summer of 2015.
“I don’t know what is going to happen with me,” Bamba said. “But it doesn’t matter if I am staying or not. The club deserves better, and I think the person in charge has to do better for our club and the supporters because they deserve better.”
Note the use of ‘our’ — that’s the sort of person Sol Bamba was. He spoke the truth even though he knew it could harm his chances of continuing his career at Leeds.
He only spent eighteen months at Leeds before joining Neil Warnock’s Cardiff City, who he helped win promotion to, and then subsequently play for a season in, the Premier League.
I first saw Bamba play in person for Leicester City against Leeds in a dead rubber that the Foxes won late on back in 2012, when he played in midfield and absolutely destroyed our central pairing of Michael Brown and Adam Clayton. Bearing in mind that Zac Thompson started for Leeds while Mikael Forssell and Danny Webber came off the bench while Neil Warnock sat in our dugout, it felt like I was watching Bamba play an entirely different sport at times.
Anyone who left a lasting impression during those wilderness years will always hold a place in my heart for giving me reason to keep believing — and Sol did that more than most.
The fact that Massimo Cellino used to turn up at Bamba’s house in the middle of the night to rant about managers to his captain shows just what he had to put up with to play for this club. We were far from the professional outfit we are today, but Bamba always treated the shirt, the fans, and the club with the utmost respect and professionalism on and off the pitch.
He fit so much into his life, and I can’t escape the feeling he still had so much more to give. The tribute when Leeds face Cardiff will be an emotional moment between two sets of fans who Sol meant so much to, and vice versa.
Sol Bamba, thank you and rest in peace. ⬢