The matchup between Cardiff City and Leeds United had an emotional touch before the contest got underway with a tribute to Sol Bamba, who played for both sides during his playing career.
The 39-year-old former Ivory Coast defender and technical director of Turkish club Adanaspor died in late August.
“Our technical director Souleymane Bamba, who fell ill before yesterday’s match against Manisa Football Club, was taken to Manisa Celal
Bayar University Hospital and sadly lost his battle for life,” Adanaspor announced in a statement last month. “Our condolences go out to
his family and our community.”
Bamba previously played for Cardiff City, Leeds United, Leicester City, Palermo in Italy, Dunfermline Athletic and Hibernian in Scotland,
and Trabzonspor in Turkey.
He made 46 national team appearances and scored one goal. After retiring from football in January 2023, he moved into coaching, first as
an assistant manager at Cardiff before becoming technical director at Adanaspor.
Sol Bamba’s time with Leeds United
Bamba joined the Whites on loan from Italian club Palermo in January 2015, appearing in 56 matches across all competitions and scoring
five goals.
The center-back made his debut against Huddersfield Town in January 2015, aiding the club to a 2-1 away win. Just two months later, he
scored his first goal for the club in a 3-0 away victory over Fulham.
After leaving Elland Road in September 2016, Bamba joined Cardiff City, where he played from 2016 until 2021. The defender made 118
appearances with the Bluebirds.
Before the match between Bamba’s two former teams, there was an homage on the pitch that included his family, as the two squads
remembered the player.
“Leeds United are devastated to learn of the passing of former captain Sol Bamba at the age of 39,” the club said in a statement on August
31 after the player’s death. “One of the nicest people in football, the thoughts of everyone at Leeds United are with Sol’s family and friends
at this tragic time.”
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