A JOURNEY from playing on the pitches of Forthbank, Palmerston and Broadwood to the World Cup in Brazil is one that wouldn't have been imagined seven years ago.

But for former Pars defender Sol Bamba, that unlikely story became a reality in the early hours of Sunday morning as he lined up in the middle of defence for Ivory Coast in their World Cup opener against Japan at the Arena Pernambuco in Recife.

Bamba's side came from behind to win 2-1, and play their second group match against Columbia today (Thursday) as they look to progress to the knockout stages.

Starring alongside Manchester City superstar and Galatasaray striker Didier Drogba is a long way from the big centre back's formative two-year spell at East End Park after he was signed by Jim Leishman in the summer of 2006.

Plucked from Paris St Germain, Bamba impressed in trial matches against West Bromwich Albion and Osasuna and went on to make 23 league appearances as the Pars lost their top flight status. He also produced an outstanding display to help Athletic beat Hibernian to reach the 2007 Scottish Cup final.

And former Pars boss Leishman recalled, "Big Sol did very well for me. We got him at 19 or 20 years of age from Paris St Germain where he wasn't getting a game and, at the time, we knew that he had potential. At the start of his time with us I didn't think he would go on and play in the World Cup but he had ability - I especially remember that game against Hibs in the cup semi-final where he was just superb.

"It's fantastic for him that he's gone on to play on such a stage. He's playing with, and playing against, some fantastic players and I'm really pleased for him because he was a great guy." Despite interest from clubs in England, Bamba remained with Dunfermline through their unsuccessful 2007/2008 First Division campaign before he was sold to Hibernian for £50,000 in December 2008. He has gone on to win 44 international caps, scoring two goals.