SKY SPORTS legend Chris Kamara has revealed that he apologised to his wife after keeping his initial health concerns a secret.
The 67-year-old was diagnosed with speech apraxia in March 2022 and subsequently stepped back from his role on Soccer Saturday.
Kamara – also known as Kammy – initially kept his condition from his nearest and dearest, incuding his wife, Anne.
However, he now admits that he regrets hiding it.
Discussing the impact his diagnosis had on his family, the Sky Sports icon told The Mirror: “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.
“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.”
He added: “I kept thinking, for over 18 months, that it would go away.
“I just kept thinking one day I’ll wake up and I’ll be back to the person I was.
“But I have accepted the way I speak now. And that’s because of the work on my mental health.
“My therapist told me that the day you accept your condition is the day you will start getting better, and that is what happened. I can be my own worst critic but my speech has improved and I’m fine with how I sound.”
Kammy returned to sport broadcasting on Boxing Day for Amazon Prime’s coverage of the Premier League.
After his comeback, he told The Express: “If that’s my last game as a reporter, what a way to go out.
“At that time, I could hardly talk, wasn’t able to remember the players names and was slurring my words.
“When my wife told me Amazon had been on the phone I said ‘I know I am getting under your feet, but I’m not delivering parcels!’
“Andrew Hornet was on the phone asking me to work for Amazon Prime, covering the Forest v Spurs match with the unbelievable Jeff Stelling – and I loved it!
“No anxiety, no slurring, the game was good and Nottingham Forest treated me like a returning hero.”
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