Bamba tributes planned for Cardiff v Leeds game

Cardiff City are planning a tribute to defender Sol Bamba around their Championship home game with Leeds United on Saturday, 21 September.

The former Cardiff player and coach died on Saturday at the age of 39, after being admitted to hospital in Turkey where he had been working as technical director for Adanaspor.

Bamba captained Leeds during a playing career which began at Paris St-Germain and took him to Dunfermline, Hibernian, Leicester, Trabzonspor, Palermo and Middlesbrough.

The Ivory Coast defender, who overcame non-Hodgkin lymphoma in 2021, made more than 50 league appearances for the Elland Road club between January 2015 and October 2016.

He then joined Cardiff where he stayed for almost five years, making more than 100 appearances.

The Bluebirds are liaising with their fellow Championship side to organise a tribute to a player who was popular at both clubs.

“Discussions are already underway to pay tribute to Sol at the Leeds game," said Cardiff chairman Mehmet Dalman.

“They are willing and happy to go along with us. There are preparations taking place for this.”

Among an outpouring of sadness and love for Bamba from around the football world, there have been calls from Cardiff fans for a permanent memorial to a player described by the club as "a hero to all of us, a leader in every dressing room and a true gentleman".

Dalman said: “Chloe [Bamba’s wife] must be going through a really difficult time. We are thinking of her and the family.

"I knew Sol, he was a good person with a huge smile and always optimistic.

"Sol always had time for people. We shall miss him."

The Football Association of Wales is also planning to pay respect to Bamba before the Nations League game with Turkey at Cardiff City Stadium on Friday, 6 September.

There will also be tributes to former Wales internationals Leighton James and Terry Medwin, both of whom have died since Wales last played a home game in March.