Mural in salute to 'fantastic' football hero Sol

A STUNNING mural to re- member Cardiff City legend Sol Bamba has been unveiled.

- GLEN WILLIAMS Football writer

The former Bluebirds centre-back sadly passed away a year ago at the age of 39, after suffering with non-Hodgkin lymphoma and the news rocked not only Cardiff supporters, but the footballing world, such was Bamba’s charisma and infectious personality.

And now, he has been immortalised with a wonderful mural for all to see.

Local artist Ibby Abdi unveiled the impressive artwork on the side of a three-storey building in Grangetown in the capital on Wednesday afternoon, with Sol’s widow, Chloe, as well as club representatives director Steve Borley and head of academy Gavin Chesterfield and the Cardiff City FC Foundation all in attendance.

The chosen image Ibby has chosen to immortalise is of Bamba's iconic celebration after his goal in the 2-1 Premier League win over Southampton, which he would dedicate to then-recently-deceased Emiliano Sala, another heartbreaking tragedy in the club's recent history.

Ibby, a Muslim like Sol, has worked in collaboration with the club, Bamba’s family and local young people and wanted the work to be a “symbol of resilience, unity and the values Sol represented”.