Latest news with #ChrisKamara
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Chris Kamara shares encouraging update amid health battle as Sky Sports legend declares: 'There is no downside to being me at the moment'
Chris Kamara reveals there is 'no downside to being me' in an encouraging update on his health following recent reports. Kamara, whose charisma earned him plenty of fans during his 24 years with Sky Sports, was diagnosed with the rare neurological condition that affects your ability to speak in 2022. In recent days, prior to working an event with Burton's Fish 'N' Chips in Camden, London, the popular pundit admitted he has been struggling with his balance. However, when speaking to Mail Sport in north London, the 67-year-old claimed that 'it may look worse than it actually is', and his speech has vastly improved. 'I'm always surprised at how lovely people are towards me,' Kamara tells Mail Sport. 'It's amazing, absolutely incredible. It makes me feel humble. There is no downside to being me at the moment, everybody is so nice. 'My speech has improved. I'm an open book, when I am asked a question, I answer honestly. It may look worse than it actually is, and my balance may be worse than it's been, but my voice is better. 'There is no thought process going on that is not transferred to the mouth, it's instant now. So, there is improvement, but downsides in other things, the balance, thyroid, I have a bad back, and might need an operation. 'But there is always somebody worse of than you. Don't feel sorry for me, I am still enjoying life.' The condition forced Kamara to retract from reporting duties with Sky Sports back in 2022, and he found it hard to make appearances in the public eye. However, in 2024, he made his comeback in broadcasting to provide coverage of Nottingham Forest's win over Tottenham for Amazon Prime. Six months later, Kamara could be seen in Camden Market engaging with fans as he served biscuits to celebrate National Fish and Chips Day. This is something that the once Bradford City and Brentford star couldn't fathom doing back in 2022, but now he wants to show that the fun-loving character that took to our screens for decades is still here. 'Two or three years ago, at the height of my condition, I wouldn't have done anything at all – I didn't feel capable of doing anything. My brain was all frazzled, I was feeling sorry for myself. 'That's all gone now. I want to enjoy life and what is remaining of it. Do the things I want, enjoy time with the family, and its great. That attitude has served me well.' After working on Sky Sports' Soccer Saturday for two decades, Kamara came off air in 2022 Not only is Kamara working on campaigns, but the improvement in his condition has led to a role back in television – but a different aspect of it. 'I have been offered a part in a film, a part in a sitcom as well. It's all good,' he continued, while speaking to Mail Sport in a cafe. 'I've done loads of TV stuff, Ted Lasso, tour appearances in Emmerdale. I love it. I'm not the same person now as I was then, but if they invite me, I will do it now.' When speaking to Kamara, his humility shines through. Many football fans have gone through life with the once footballer on their screens every weekend. With numerous fans coming up to him to share their memories of the charming Kamara, he finds it hard to believe how well-known he is. However, meeting one significant person back in 2022 shocked him, in particular. 'I was so honoured when I got my MBE from Prince William when he said "I have grown up with you" you don't think things like that. 'One of the Royal Family, that is the next King in waiting, has grown up watching you. It's humbling.' While engaging with the general public on Friday, Kamara also served them with the nostalgic 80s favourite snack, Fish 'N' Chips. 'I was out there on the streets, bringing the legendary snack back into the spotlight, and let me tell you, the buzz was electric. 'So many smiling faces, loving the nostalgia and tucking into the tasters, it was the perfect way to celebrate National Fish and Chip Day. Proper magic.'
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Chris Kamara gives worrying update on his health as neurological disorder which forced him off air leaves him 'really weak' and struggling to walk down stairs
Chris Kamara has revealed he struggles to walk down stairs nowadays after being diagnosed with speech apraxia. Kamara, 67, was diagnosed with the rare neurological condition that affects your ability to speak in 2022 and was subsequently forced to step away from his television duties, including Soccer Saturday. The popular pundit made a return to TV screens on Boxing Day last year when he covered Nottingham Forest 's Premier League clash with Tottenham for Amazon Prime, and he recently opened up on travelling to Mexico to undergo treatment for his condition. However, Kamara stopped the treatment after the machine that transmitted radio frequency and magnetic fields into his body became less effective, and he has now admitted that maintaining his balance has become an everyday struggle. Having made his comeback in the latter stages of 2024, Kamara has now revealed he has to choose his TV appearances carefully due to his physical issues. 'I'm choosy these days,' Kamara told the Daily Star. 'That's what's happened with the work because even though I've got the acceptance of my condition, I still don't want to put myself in a situation where it comes back to bite me. 'So I'm not like the old Chris Kamara who would say yes to the opening of an envelope. Whereas now I'm a bit more choosy and will I put myself in a situation where it won't work out alongside my apraxia, I have dyspraxia, which affects your balance. 'So I'm weak, really weak, and you know, going down these stairs isn't great. Going up these stairs is fine, but going down these stairs, the brain tells you you're going to fall even though you probably won't, so you have to hold on to the banister and getting on planes and things like that. Don't be in the queue behind me because I'll be 5 minutes getting down those plane steps!' Kamara's concerning update on his health comes just weeks after he admitted to apologising to his wife, Anne, for not speaking up when he first felt the symptoms of his condition. 'They spotted the signs (that I was struggling). I should have talked to my wife Anne, for which I have apologised to her. I didn't tell my wife what was going on,' he said. 'My family would have supported me rather than somebody I didn't know, Anne, and my sons would have helped me in the first place.' Kamara, who had a 20-year playing career that saw him feature for the likes of Brentford, Sheffield United and Leeds United, worked on Soccer Saturday for 24 years before stepping away in 2022. He became a fans' favourite largely thanks to his rapport with then-presenter Jeff Stelling and his hilarious on-air gaffes. He also hosted Sky's popular football highlights show Goals on Sunday between 2000 and 2022.
Wales Online
3 days ago
- Health
- Wales Online
Chris Kamara admits 'I'm really weak' in heartbreaking health update
Chris Kamara admits 'I'm really weak' in heartbreaking health update The beloved football pundit was diagnosed with a rare neurological condition in 2022 Kamara has issued a new update on his health battle (Image: James Baylis - AMA/Getty Images ) Chris Kamara has admitted he is "very weak" and now struggles to walk down stairs in a heartbreaking health update. The beloved TV presenter and football pundit was diagnosed with speech apraxia - a rare neurological condition which affects sufferers' ability to speak - in 2022, having been also diagnosed with an underactive thyroid a year earlier. The condition can make saying the right sounds and words very difficult, while it also affects your balance and strength, with Kamara also living with dyspraxia. His diagnosis saw him step back from TV work while he received treatment, and he left Sky Sports later that year after 24 years with the broadcaster, tearfully admitting that his condition had left him left him feeling "like a fraud" as it caused him to slur his words. After flying to Mexico and undergoing intense speech therapy in a bid to aid his condition, Kamara has seen noticeable improvements and even made a return to punditry last year as part of Amazon Prime Video's festive Premier League coverage. But, in a fresh health update, the 67-year-old has admitted his struggles with his balance have impacted what he can do. While he has recently partnered with Burton's Fish 'N' Chips, he has confessed to being a lot more "choosy" over the work he takes on now. "I'm choosy these days," he told the Daily Star. "That's what's happened with the work because even though I've got the acceptance of my condition, I still don't want to put myself in a situation where it comes back to bite me. Article continues below "So I'm not like the old Chris Kamara who would say yes to the opening of an envelope. Whereas now I'm a bit more choosy and will I put myself in a situation where it won't work out alongside my apraxia, I have dyspraxia, which affects your balance." Giving an insight into his condition, Kamara added: "So I'm weak, really weak, and you know, going down these stairs isn't great. "Going up these stairs is fine, but going down these stairs, the brain tells you you're going to fall even though you probably won't, so you have to hold on to the banister and getting on planes and things like that. "Don't be in the queue behind me," he added. "Because I'll be five minutes getting down those plane steps!" It comes after Kamara heartbreakingly admitted that he is "no longer the person I used to be", having suffered regular falls following his life-changing diagnosis. "In so many ways, the diagnosis has changed my life," he said. "I am no longer the person I used to be, so I would be lying if I said it hasn't changed me. The brain tells me that I am going to fall, and unfortunately I often do." Last year, the Sky Sports legend admitted his health struggles had previously made him feel like a "burden" to his family as he confessed to having "stupid thoughts" about "taking himself out of the game". "I felt sorry for myself when the condition came along and I didn't know what to do or how to cope with it,' he said. "You have stupid thoughts. You think you've got Alzheimer's or dementia. "I didn't want to be a burden to my family, so you think about taking yourself out of the game. Thankfully, all of those stupid thoughts have gone now and I'm working through it, on the mend. Article continues below "How could I ever of thought of not being in this world with my grandkids? I love them and I appreciate life," he added. "I didn't understand mental health, I'll be honest with you. If you were a type of person who said, 'I don't feel like training today', I'd say what's the matter with you. Now, I realise that I was totally wrong. "The majority of people who are genuinely honest and have depression, anxiety and have mental health problems need help as best as they possibly can. The start is talking to someone about it. I did that and it's helped me immensely."
The Sun
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
‘I'm really weak' – Chris Kamara gives health update as Sky Sports legend reveals new role
CHRIS KAMARA admitted 'I'm really weak' after giving a health update while securing a new role. The Sky Sports legend, 67, was forced to step back from broadcasting two years after being diagnosed with apraxia of speech (AOS). 1 The condition sees sufferers struggle to speak as the brain is unable to properly control the muscles used to form words. Kamara exclusively told The Sun last month that he had travelled to Mexico for treatment. He also suffers from dyspraxia, which affects his balance and coordination. And now, the fan favourite has managed to land himself a new role. For one day only, Kamara will be serving free chip butties at Camden Market with Burton's Fish 'N' Chips on Friday June 6. The surprise gig was carefully considered before being accepted by Kamara because of his AOS and dyspraxia. And he admits his health battle has left him feeling 'really weak' overall. Kamara told The Star: 'I'm choosy these days. "That's what's happened with the work because even though I've got the acceptance of my condition, I still don't want to put myself in a situation where it comes back to bite me. 'So I'm not like the old Chris Kamara who would say yes to the opening of an envelope. What is apraxia of speech? Apraxia of speech is a condition which makes talking difficult, with sufferers knowing what they'd like to say, but having trouble communicating their words. The NHS says that the condition can be extremely frustrating for people. They explained: "Frequently the person with apraxia will have difficulties with conversational speech. However they may be good at 'automatic' speech tasks such as counting, swearing, repeating rhymes, greetings and farewell. It's usually caused by damage to the left side of the brain, such as a stroke. The condition does not affect a person's understanding and the symptoms of the condition can vary occurring to the severity of the disorder. The main symptoms are: being able to say a word correctly one minute and then not the next difficulty at the beginning of words greater difficulty with longer words aware of mistakes but unable to correct them speaking slowly being better at 'automatic tasks' such as counting and singing. "Whereas now I'm a bit more choosy and will I put myself in a situation where it won't work out alongside my apraxia, I have dyspraxia, which affects your balance. 'So I'm weak, really weak, and you know, going down these stairs isn't great. "Going up these stairs is fine, but going down these stairs, the brain tells you you're going to fall even though you probably won't, so you have to hold on to the banister and getting on planes and things like that.' On his dyspraxia, Kamara added: 'Walking is fine but the thing is if I trip I can't put my arms out anymore to stop my fall, so if I was riding a bike, when you stop, the brain won't allow your feet to go down and stop you falling. 'You just fall over the sides, it's crazy, but the brain is so complex, it's amazing. 'I didn't realise the compartments of the brain, where if you talk in an accent. So (for me) I advise speaking in a Scottish accent. "The flow is quicker than my normal speeds, which is crazy, but that's the brain for it.'
Scottish Sun
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
‘I'm really weak' – Chris Kamara gives health update as Sky Sports legend reveals new role
Kamara is fighting against TWO illnesses KAM'S NEW GIG 'I'm really weak' – Chris Kamara gives health update as Sky Sports legend reveals new role Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) CHRIS KAMARA admitted 'I'm really weak' after giving a health update while securing a new role. The Sky Sports legend, 67, was forced to step back from broadcasting two years after being diagnosed with apraxia of speech (AOS). 1 Chris Kamara admits 'I'm really weak' after landing a new role Credit: Getty The condition sees sufferers struggle to speak as the brain is unable to properly control the muscles used to form words. Kamara exclusively told The Sun last month that he had travelled to Mexico for treatment. He also suffers from dyspraxia, which affects his balance and coordination. And now, the fan favourite has managed to land himself a new role. For one day only, Kamara will be serving free chip butties at Camden Market with Burton's Fish 'N' Chips on Friday June 6. The surprise gig was carefully considered before being accepted by Kamara because of his AOS and dyspraxia. And he admits his health battle has left him feeling 'really weak' overall. Kamara told The Star: 'I'm choosy these days. "That's what's happened with the work because even though I've got the acceptance of my condition, I still don't want to put myself in a situation where it comes back to bite me. 'So I'm not like the old Chris Kamara who would say yes to the opening of an envelope. Fans have 'tears in eyes' as Sky Sports icon Chris Kamara reunited with old pal Jeff Stelling on shock commentary return What is apraxia of speech? Apraxia of speech is a condition which makes talking difficult, with sufferers knowing what they'd like to say, but having trouble communicating their words. The NHS says that the condition can be extremely frustrating for people. They explained: "Frequently the person with apraxia will have difficulties with conversational speech. However they may be good at 'automatic' speech tasks such as counting, swearing, repeating rhymes, greetings and farewell. It's usually caused by damage to the left side of the brain, such as a stroke. The condition does not affect a person's understanding and the symptoms of the condition can vary occurring to the severity of the disorder. The main symptoms are: being able to say a word correctly one minute and then not the next difficulty at the beginning of words greater difficulty with longer words aware of mistakes but unable to correct them speaking slowly being better at 'automatic tasks' such as counting and singing. "Whereas now I'm a bit more choosy and will I put myself in a situation where it won't work out alongside my apraxia, I have dyspraxia, which affects your balance. 'So I'm weak, really weak, and you know, going down these stairs isn't great. "Going up these stairs is fine, but going down these stairs, the brain tells you you're going to fall even though you probably won't, so you have to hold on to the banister and getting on planes and things like that.' On his dyspraxia, Kamara added: 'Walking is fine but the thing is if I trip I can't put my arms out anymore to stop my fall, so if I was riding a bike, when you stop, the brain won't allow your feet to go down and stop you falling. 'You just fall over the sides, it's crazy, but the brain is so complex, it's amazing. 'I didn't realise the compartments of the brain, where if you talk in an accent. So (for me) I advise speaking in a Scottish accent. "The flow is quicker than my normal speeds, which is crazy, but that's the brain for it.'
