MLS, Lampson:"Soccer gave me something to look forward to after cancer treatment"

We cover many fascinating football related stories on this site, many involve huge transfers or great performances on the pitch. But sometimes we get to work on stories that transcend sports like this one. Chicago Fire keeper Matt Lampson gave an exclusive interview to GiamlucaDiMarzio.com on how "soccer" helped him beat cancer

Interview by Max Sardella

Your twitter bio says: "cancer survivor”. How did soccer help you to beat cancer?

“Soccer provided me a driving force and something to look forward to after cancer treatment. It was essentially a goal for me to get back on the field and I never anticipated that I would even play competitively again but my love for the game and the desire to get back on the field that never left my mind during cancer treatment. It helped me get to the stage I am today.”

How does the lampstrong.com foundation work? Through your foundation somebody has beat cancer? What is the message to all the people who are fighting against cancer?

“Once I turned professional I thought that it was a good platform to reach as many people as possible so I started LampStrong and tried to reach as many people as I could, change as many lives as I could, inspire as many people as I could and essentially what I wanted to do was provide hope for cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy and radiation treatments that as hard as the treatments are it shows them that they can accomplish anything that they want to do. I always tell them that they should use their second opportunity at life to make the most of it and to make a true difference. That’s what I want cancer patients to know, is that you are earning another opportunity to continue your life and you should use it to its utmost and accomplish anything that you ever wanted to do.”

Do you know Acerbi’s story? He beat cancer like you...

“He’s a great role model. I think it’s incredible that he’s even playing in the Serie A. He had a difficult situation and I think it shows that it really makes you appreciate life and appreciate the things that you love and one of the things he really wanted to do was get back on the field and I think he’s an incredible man for it. It humbles you, cancer does, and he’s lucky that he did not have to miss a lot of time. I was out for quite some time but I hope that he’s doing his best to share his story and reach as many people in Italy as he can.”

Do you follow the Italian league?( Serie A) Is Buffon the best goalkeeper in soccer history?

“I follow it somewhat. I always know what’s really going on. I used to play with Federico Higuain, whose brother is obviously Gonzalo, and he’s been excellent for Napoli so it’s cool to see that. It’s hard to say if Buffon is the best goalkeeper in history, there have been so many great ones. Italy already had a fantastic one in Zoff. Oliver Kahn is up there for me, van der Sar is up there for me. But what Buffon has done in his career and the length in which he’s done it and how exceptional he’s been for a such a long time, I think he’s certainly up there, maybe in the top five of all time and he’s always been a role model for me for what he does on the field and how he carries himself and the consistency in which he plays is incredible to me so without a doubt he’s one of the best of all time.”

What age did you start playing football? Donnarumma is one the best Italian goalkeepers in Serie A. He’s 17 and is now playing for the Italian national team. A great achievement. What do you think?

“I started playing soccer at five years old and I did not start playing goalkeeper until I was about eight. So it took a little time before I transitioned but I really got serious about soccer when I was about eleven years old.”

Do you now some of the Italian players in MlS? Who has impressed you?

“I think Sebastian Giovinco is probably one of the best players in MLS. He’s one of the most dangerous players I’ve ever played against, he’s an incredible, incredible player, I think he deserves to be on the Italian National Team regardless of the league that he plays in. Pirlo as well, everybody knows the caliber of player that he is, he can put the ball wherever he wants, he’s fantastic on the ball and just getting to play against players like that is truly an experience and it’s fun to do. It tests you as a player and tests what level you are.”