How Sol Bamba made the Premier League realise what Cardiff C
Tue Feb 12, 2019 1:43 pm
How Sol Bamba made the Premier League realise what Cardiff City fans have known for two years
The Bluebirds cult hero has imposed his lovable personality on the Premier League, as his celebration at Southampton showed
TUES 12 FEB 2019
The Bluebirds cult hero has imposed his lovable personality on the Premier League, as his celebration at Southampton showed
For two years, Sol Bamba was adored by Cardiff City fans, and Cardiff City fans only.
The phrase 'cult hero' is overused in football, but this Ivorian with a strange twang that combines Scottish and Parisien rapidly found a place in Bluebirds folklore, almost by sheer force of personality.
His starring role in promotion, his affable media appearances and his strong bond with Neil Warnock all contributed. Yet it was the glint in Bamba's eye, his unbridled passion — as well as those bone-crunching tackles — that made Bluebirds supporters realise he was a top bloke on and off the field.
In recent weeks, he's gone beyond cult hero and into the Premier League stratosphere.
The wider footballing public are finding a place in their hearts for Bamba too.
This is the story of how one Cardiff City player became so universally popular...
Sol Bamba of Cardiff City celebrates at the end of the Southampton match (Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency)
The apologetic smile
In October last year, two years exactly after signing on a free transfer from Leeds United — where he was not loved nor rated, for some reason Cardiff fans still struggle to comprehend — Bamba gave a telling interview.
He told BBC Africa "it was taking it a bit far" to call himself a cult hero, even suggesting he was "embarrassed" by the credit he's often afforded by his loving supporters.
All of which was said with the cheeky grin Cardiff fans have come to know very well.
A month later, in November, that smile was back, after a memorable moment that pushed Bamba's amiable character to a new, much bigger, audience.
He'd smashed home a late winner for the Bluebirds in a crucial Cardiff City Stadium victory over 10-man Brighton, an ugly goalmouth scramble goal that elicited more relief than joy from a rain-soaked Welsh crowd.
The relief was evident in Bamba's celebration: he wheeled away, removing his shirt and waving it around like Liberty Leading the People. The inevitable booking from referee Martin Atkinson, however, never arrived.
Cue Bamba giving a sheepish interview to the BBC, which was beamed around the country later that night on Match of the Day.
"You're telling porkies," said the interviewer, realising Bamba had lied about taking his shirt off.
"I know, don't tell anyone. Let's keep it to ourselves!"
The wider footballing world had its first glimpse of the player and personality Cardiff fans — and boss Warnock — love so much.
Since then, Bamba has been semi-regular pundit on Sky Sports, named several times in major media outlets' teams of the week and is, by a distance, the most commonly requested Cardiff player for interview.
People are sitting up and taking notice. Everyone wants a slice of his infectious personality.
The pure passion
From his face-contorting celebration to mark a late equaliser against Sheffield Wednesday, to rampaging around the Griffin Park turf after volleying spectacularly a crucial promotion goal at Brentford, last season saw plenty of the famed Bamba passion.
In fact, the now 34-year-old defender has displayed it since his very first Cardiff appearance, leaping to stab home a vital winner in a Severnside derby against Bristol City.
But Bamba arrived this season in the Premier League with a point to prove.
And every time he leaves his mark on a game, he makes sure he enjoys it. It's the same philosophy driving his mentor Warock.
Just think back at the frenzied celebration at Chelsea in September, Bamba dashing over to give Cardiff assistant boss Kevin Blackwell a bear hug after a perfectly-executed set-piece gave the Bluebirds a (short-lived) lead at Stamford Bridge.
Look at St Mary's last weekend and the riotous scenes in the Cardiff away end, into which Bamba dived to celebrate a similar, yet more important strike.
Just ask Bluebirds fan Noah Bushby — whose glasses were smashed in the melee — for an endorsement of Bamba's passion.
Yet for all the blood and thunder, there's an important footballing point to be made here.
At 34, Bamba is playing his first season in the Premier League.
It's something he has craved all his career and he's determined to make the most of the experience.
For that reason, every achievement is to be cherished.
Every inch-perfect tackle is cheered boisterously by his wife Chloe on Instagram, every clean sheet means a hearty slap on the back for Bamba's back-four partners. Every win is a landmark moment.
Surviving in the Premier League would mean as much for Bamba as it would Warnock. Both have something to prove — and are revelling in it.
Listen and read — When Sol Bamba joined Nathan Blake on our Bootroom Cardiff City podcast
The perfect environment
"I can call it home here in Cardiff because in a way it's similar to Africa," Bamba said in that October interview.
"You can walk down the street and say hello to someone, even if you don't know them.
"People are very friendly, nice and they made me feel very welcome."
The Bluebirds cult hero has imposed his lovable personality on the Premier League, as his celebration at Southampton showed
TUES 12 FEB 2019
The Bluebirds cult hero has imposed his lovable personality on the Premier League, as his celebration at Southampton showed
For two years, Sol Bamba was adored by Cardiff City fans, and Cardiff City fans only.
The phrase 'cult hero' is overused in football, but this Ivorian with a strange twang that combines Scottish and Parisien rapidly found a place in Bluebirds folklore, almost by sheer force of personality.
His starring role in promotion, his affable media appearances and his strong bond with Neil Warnock all contributed. Yet it was the glint in Bamba's eye, his unbridled passion — as well as those bone-crunching tackles — that made Bluebirds supporters realise he was a top bloke on and off the field.
In recent weeks, he's gone beyond cult hero and into the Premier League stratosphere.
The wider footballing public are finding a place in their hearts for Bamba too.
This is the story of how one Cardiff City player became so universally popular...
Sol Bamba of Cardiff City celebrates at the end of the Southampton match (Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency)
The apologetic smile
In October last year, two years exactly after signing on a free transfer from Leeds United — where he was not loved nor rated, for some reason Cardiff fans still struggle to comprehend — Bamba gave a telling interview.
He told BBC Africa "it was taking it a bit far" to call himself a cult hero, even suggesting he was "embarrassed" by the credit he's often afforded by his loving supporters.
All of which was said with the cheeky grin Cardiff fans have come to know very well.
A month later, in November, that smile was back, after a memorable moment that pushed Bamba's amiable character to a new, much bigger, audience.
He'd smashed home a late winner for the Bluebirds in a crucial Cardiff City Stadium victory over 10-man Brighton, an ugly goalmouth scramble goal that elicited more relief than joy from a rain-soaked Welsh crowd.
The relief was evident in Bamba's celebration: he wheeled away, removing his shirt and waving it around like Liberty Leading the People. The inevitable booking from referee Martin Atkinson, however, never arrived.
Cue Bamba giving a sheepish interview to the BBC, which was beamed around the country later that night on Match of the Day.
"You're telling porkies," said the interviewer, realising Bamba had lied about taking his shirt off.
"I know, don't tell anyone. Let's keep it to ourselves!"
The wider footballing world had its first glimpse of the player and personality Cardiff fans — and boss Warnock — love so much.
Since then, Bamba has been semi-regular pundit on Sky Sports, named several times in major media outlets' teams of the week and is, by a distance, the most commonly requested Cardiff player for interview.
People are sitting up and taking notice. Everyone wants a slice of his infectious personality.
The pure passion
From his face-contorting celebration to mark a late equaliser against Sheffield Wednesday, to rampaging around the Griffin Park turf after volleying spectacularly a crucial promotion goal at Brentford, last season saw plenty of the famed Bamba passion.
In fact, the now 34-year-old defender has displayed it since his very first Cardiff appearance, leaping to stab home a vital winner in a Severnside derby against Bristol City.
But Bamba arrived this season in the Premier League with a point to prove.
And every time he leaves his mark on a game, he makes sure he enjoys it. It's the same philosophy driving his mentor Warock.
Just think back at the frenzied celebration at Chelsea in September, Bamba dashing over to give Cardiff assistant boss Kevin Blackwell a bear hug after a perfectly-executed set-piece gave the Bluebirds a (short-lived) lead at Stamford Bridge.
Look at St Mary's last weekend and the riotous scenes in the Cardiff away end, into which Bamba dived to celebrate a similar, yet more important strike.
Just ask Bluebirds fan Noah Bushby — whose glasses were smashed in the melee — for an endorsement of Bamba's passion.
Yet for all the blood and thunder, there's an important footballing point to be made here.
At 34, Bamba is playing his first season in the Premier League.
It's something he has craved all his career and he's determined to make the most of the experience.
For that reason, every achievement is to be cherished.
Every inch-perfect tackle is cheered boisterously by his wife Chloe on Instagram, every clean sheet means a hearty slap on the back for Bamba's back-four partners. Every win is a landmark moment.
Surviving in the Premier League would mean as much for Bamba as it would Warnock. Both have something to prove — and are revelling in it.
Listen and read — When Sol Bamba joined Nathan Blake on our Bootroom Cardiff City podcast
The perfect environment
"I can call it home here in Cardiff because in a way it's similar to Africa," Bamba said in that October interview.
"You can walk down the street and say hello to someone, even if you don't know them.
"People are very friendly, nice and they made me feel very welcome."
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Re: How Sol Bamba made the Premier League realise what Cardi
Tue Feb 12, 2019 2:01 pm
Absolutely love the guy!! He takes Warnocks passion onto the pitch with him. Made for us, as we were for him.
Re: How Sol Bamba made the Premier League realise what Cardi
Tue Feb 12, 2019 3:30 pm
He's brilliant when on Ssn got bright future when he retires. 
Re: How Sol Bamba made the Premier League realise what Cardi
Tue Feb 12, 2019 7:17 pm
This team will be remembered in years to come with much fondness, so many characters who have come together with a love and special bond to Cardiff City. Neil Warnock has created all this. What a fantastic football man.