Dortmund: Sébastien Haller opens up about his "cancer"

Sébastien Haller was the big breakout star of the Champions League (2021-2022). Making his debut in the Champions League (C1), the striker had scored 11 goals and provided 2 assists in 8 games. He became the first player in history to score 11 goals in his first campaign in the prestigious competition. Enough to attract Europe's big clubs. And it was Dortmund who signed the Ivorian. The Haller success story was set to continue in Germany. But just two weeks after his transfer, the Ivorian received bad news. "On the first day, I didn't know it was cancer," he says. "They just said 'tumour'. But I'm not a doctor. I didn't know exactly what it meant. I just asked the doctor, 'It's cancer, isn't it?' He said, 'Yes.' So I said, 'Well, say it,'" the player tells BBC Sport Africa.

The 28-year-old striker was diagnosed with testicular cancer. Haller's world came crashing down. "Of course, you realise that something really serious is happening, that a lot of things could change," he continues. "But the urologist helped me not to be afraid. He said I could make a good recovery. I took everything he said at face value." Next came the terrible task of telling his family. "There was no time to be emotional," he recalls. "She had the children and I had other appointments. I had to be straightforward. 'Please sit down. I have to tell you something serious.' It had to be quick so that she could process it. Unfortunately, that's the situation when you're married to someone. You have to share everything. You can't just avoid some parts of the problem."

"I knew I would come back."

Sébastien Haller did not let it get him down. He began his fight against cancer. He would undergo chemotherapy and two operations. The former West Ham player shared every moment of his illness with his fans. It was a sort of therapy for his children. "The photos on social media reflect me pretty well," says Haller. "If I were on my own, just with my wife, it would probably be different. But as soon as you have children, you don't have time to think negatively because they need you. No matter what has happened, you have to show them everything is fine."

Despite the support of his new club, Sébastien Haller felt terrible for Dortmund. He explains: "I was thinking that they had bought a player and after two weeks, I can't play for I don't know how long. What a bad deal. Of course, I wanted to come back and repay the support they gave me. It was really important. They gave to me before I could give them anything. I was ill and they backed me. But I always knew I would make it. It was largely mental and the second operation made things a bit harder, but I knew I would come back."

Read also: Champions League: Sébastien Haller delivers when it matters

Cancer can strike anyone. Haller urges people to be more vigilant. "The most important thing is not to think it can only happen to other people. I was one of them seven months ago. I was fit and I felt well. Within three months, the level of this tumour was really high. We have to get checked. You can't be embarrassed. We don't check only for ourselves but also for our family, our friends and those around us. It can save a lot of lives," says the Ivory Coast international.

Sébastien Haller has beaten cancer. His new battle is now on the pitch, where he has to prove he is still a top striker. He played his first competitive match on 22 January. Since then, he has played five more, including 3 as a starter. After setting up a goal in his second match, the Ivorian then scored ten days later. All of that in an average of 50 minutes on the pitch.