Chris Kamara, one of football’s most beloved broadcasters, has bravely revealed that he once contemplated suicide while struggling with a diagnosis of speech apraxia, a neurological disorder that led him to step down from his prominent TV role at Sky Sports.
Kamara, 66, shared his battle with the disorder in 2021 after fans noticed his slurred speech on Sky’s popular football show Soccer Saturday. He later learned that his condition, which affects his ability to speak, was due to apraxia, leaving him uncertain about his future in broadcasting.
In a candid conversation with Brentford FC, where Kamara played 190 games in the 1980s, he admitted that during the darkest moments of his diagnosis, he considered ending his life. “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, Kamara’s outlook has shifted. He acknowledged that these thoughts have now passed, and he is making progress in his recovery. “How could I ever have thought of not being in this world with my grandkids? I love them and I appreciate life,” he said, reflecting on the joy his family brings him.
The former footballer also opened up about his transformation in understanding mental health. “I didn’t understand mental health, I’ll be honest with you. If someone said they had problems at home or were feeling down, I’d tell them to get up and get on with it. Now, I realise that I was totally wrong. People struggling with depression or anxiety need help, and talking to someone is the first step,” Kamara shared.
This is not the first time Kamara has discussed his mental health struggles. In his memoir, Kammy: My Unbelievable Life, he revealed how he used to confide his darkest thoughts to animals on his property, feeling free to express himself without judgment. “I would talk to them as I stood there. I’d let all my innermost feelings tumble out. Some of those thoughts were dark, worrying about my physical and neurological deterioration and the effect it would have on my family.”
Kamara’s career began as a footballer, with stints at clubs such as Portsmouth, Swindon, Brentford, and Leeds United. However, he became a household name after joining Sky Sports in 1999 as a pitchside reporter. His humorous reports and catchphrase “unbelievable Jeff!” made him a fan favorite.
This summer, Kamara shared that his speech has significantly improved, and he now speaks with fluency, no longer interrupted by the challenges his condition once posed. “I’ve got the fluency, the brain when you want to talk, it’s not interrupted anymore,” he said in an interview. “If you met me before, you would think I always talk like this.”
Kamara had initially feared that his condition might be dementia, worrying that it would rob him of his ability to recognize his family. “I wasn’t sure if my problem was dementia, and I just kept thinking that in six months I wouldn’t know my own children or my wife,” he recalled.
Despite the challenges he’s faced, Kamara’s journey toward recovery and his willingness to share his story have made him a powerful advocate for mental health awareness, demonstrating that there is always hope, even in the darkest moments.
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