Cardiff defender hopeful to rerun after Non-Hodgkin lymphoma diagnosis

The 36-year-old uncovered he has begun chemotherapy sittings and has been told there is a decent possibility he could completely recover after finishing his program of six sessions more than half a month. 

"I am in good form and treatment is going well." he said to

.

"It has been difficult for my family, the kids and my wife, as well as my family back home, my parents and my brothers and sisters.

"The support I have had from football and the world in general has been phenomenal. That helped me a lot and my family as well.

'I've done chemotherapy, the doctor planned for six sessions, I've done three and I have a fourth next week. After that I should be clear, you never really know but there is a good chance that after six chemo sessions I could be okay.

"Hopefully the sixth one will be finished by April 28, from that fingers crossed I will be all clear. You have to wait two to three weeks between each session for my body to recover.

"So far it has been good, there are bad days when you are really tired and lose your appetite, you feel sick, but I know I have to go through this.

"Days like today I feel brilliant and I am happy to get on with my life, go to the gym, see people, see the lads at training - that keeps me going."

The France-born Ivory Coast international says the conclusion of his condition, which he at first thought was just a backache, came as unexpected news not long before Christmas. 

"I had a sore back for a few months and I don't think I played any games in my career without some pain somewhere - so I didn't suspect anything big." he continued.

"It was very bad at night so we looked further. We realised it was more, the sad news was that it was just before Christmas so I didn't get to enjoy it with the family.

"Soon as I found the news I knew I needed to get better for them, for myself."

The previous

Leeds

,

Hibernian

,

Leicester

, and

PSG

player says he is still hopeful of returning and playing for Cardiff City, which could even happen before the current

season's end. 

In any case, he is thinking about moving into managerial positions if his body doesn't permit him to proceed with his playing vocation.

"Football has been my whole life. First and foremost I want to get back, if the doctor clears me maybe I will go back and play, I don't want to finish that way," he said.

"If not I am prepared for the next stage and hopefully I can go into management."

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