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

By SAM BROOKES

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.

Chris Kamara has admitted he struggles to walk down stairs after being diagnosed with speech apraxia

Kamara was forced off air in 2022 after over two decades on Soccer Saturday

Kamara revealed last month that he apologised to his wife Anne (right) for not telling her earlier when he first felt the symptoms of his condition

‘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. 

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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

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