December 17th 2024.
Chris Kamara, a well-known and beloved figure on Sky Sports for many years, has recently opened up about his struggles with speech problems. However, after facing a difficult health battle that left him struggling to communicate, he has announced his return to the commentary world.
As a former midfielder for various EFL clubs, Kamara brought his expertise and charisma to the Sky Sports studio, reporting from different grounds around the country on Soccer Saturday and co-hosting the popular Goals on Sunday highlights show. He spent an impressive 24 years at Sky Sports before departing at the end of the 2021-22 football season.
During his time at Sky Sports, Kamara revealed that he had been diagnosed with an underactive thyroid after experiencing "brain fog" during an interview on The One Show. But in March 2022, he received another diagnosis of speech apraxia, a disorder that affects speech ability and made it difficult for him to continue his work as a sports presenter. As a result, he made the difficult decision to step back from his role.
However, almost three years later, Kamara has received the exciting news that he will be returning to the job he loves as part of Amazon Prime's Premier League coverage on Boxing Day. In a post on his social media, he expressed his gratitude and excitement, writing, "Best phone call ever this afternoon. Amazon inviting me to do the [Nottingham] Forest v Spurs game on Boxing Day. Reporting back to the Unbelievable Jeff Stelling in the studio. I thought I was done, so it's a big thank you Amazon. I'm back."
Kamara's passionate and sometimes chaotic reporting style, as well as his friendship with fellow presenter Jeff Stelling, made him a fan favorite. His catchphrase "Unbelievable Jeff" and iconic moment of not realizing a player had been sent off, further endeared him to football fans.
In a 2022 interview, Kamara admitted that living with speech apraxia made him feel like a "fraud" in his broadcasting career. He explained, "I don't bring to the table what I used to. I feel I'm doing these programs and they're not getting the best of me - they're tolerating me, that's how it feels. You take your old self for granted."
He went on to describe the challenges he faces with his speech, saying, "It feels like someone has taken over my voice box. The voice that used to come out would come out at 300 miles an hour on Soccer Saturday, motormouth, talking and not even waiting for a breath, just keep going and going. Now when I hear myself or see myself on TV it's someone else. It's really strange."
Despite the difficulties he has faced, Kamara remains determined to continue pursuing his passion for football reporting. With over 600 appearances across a 20-year football career, he has proven his dedication to the sport and his resilience in the face of adversity. Football fans around the world are eagerly anticipating his return to the commentary box on Boxing Day.
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