Ivorian and Borussia Dortmund striker Sébastien Haller scored his first goal in a competitive football encounter since he recovered from testicular cancer on World Cancer day.
Haller who was for months out of football and on the hospital bed scored in the Bundesliga as Borussia Dortmund ran out 5-1 winners against Freiburg.
Sébastien Haller scored that goal coincidentally as well on a day dedicated to create awareness and inspire action for a cancer-free world, World Cancer Day, February 4, 2023.
The BVB forward was diagnosed with Testicular Cancer, shortly after he signed for Borussia Dortmund, and he immediately needed to put the majority of his attention on his health.
Haller needed two operations, he had to undergo four rounds of Chemotherapy and surgery last year in November.
Sébastien Haller statements after the game
The man who was amongst the men who scored the goals which led to the smashing victory over Freiburg told Sky Sport after the game that “I’ve been waiting for this moment since day one. When I scored the goal, it felt like the whole stadium was on fire.”
“I am happy, but the way is still long, so we will keep walking and hoping for more goals.”
Borussia Dortmund in commendable fashion also helped in marking the important Day, by adding a lump on the centre circle before the commencement of the encounter, and during the interval, to help in creating attention for testicular cancer.
Before the game, the club tweeted: “Before the match and during the half-time break, a bulge that symbolizes a testicular tumor will be added to the centre circle to raise awareness for testicular cancer. It’s never too early to get a cancer screening and please do it regularly!”
Haller’s football comeback
Haller had earlier made his footballing comeback as he participated in an encounter against Augsburg on the 22nd of January in a match Dortmund won by 4-3 before making his first start for Borussia Dortmund against Bayer Leverkusen one week after that.
Nico Schlotterbeck, Karim Adeyemi, Julian Brandt and Gio Reyna were the men who got the goals for the Black and Yellows including Sébastien Haller.
They by virtue of that win moved up to third in the Bundesliga, two points behind Bundesliga League leaders Union Berlin and level on points with Bayern Munich.
It was incredible seeing Sébastien Haller fight and conquer the menace known as Cancer, he also did not only stop there as he returned performing optimally for Borussia Dortmund.
Scoring a goal on such a day would go on to give motivation to those who are currently experiencing that deadly disease that they can bounce back from whatever.
It would also raise awareness and generate attention towards finding a proper solution if there is any in combating this disease.
