Cardiff City defender Sol Bamba has been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma, a type of cancer in the lymphatic system, and has started a course of chemotherapy treatment, the second-tier Championship club announced on Monday.
Bamba, 35, has been used sparingly as a substitute in the league this season and made his last appearance in December in a 3-2 win over Birmingham City when he came on in stoppage time.
"Universally admired by team mates, staff and supporters in the Welsh capital, Sol has begun his battle in typically positive spirits and will continue to be an integral part of the Bluebirds family," the club said in a statement https://www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk/news/club-statement-sol-bamba.
"During treatment, Sol will support his team mates at matches and our younger players within the academy, with whom he will continue his coaching development."
Bamba was a key player during Cardiff's Premier League promotion bid in 2017-18, playing in all 46 league games as they finished second and gained an automatic entry into the top flight.
However, the Ivorian saw his 2018-19 season curtailed by a knee ligament tear in March as Cardiff finished 18th and dropped back into the Championship.
(Reporting by Rohith Nair in Bengaluru, editing by Pritha Sarkar)
