One Sol Bamba — Square Ball 13/9/24
RIP Big Sol
Written by: Calum Archibald
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.