22 May 2023 , 11:53
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Football legend Chris Kamara has pulled out of hosting UK's Strongest Man due to his ongoing battle with apraxia of speech.
The 65-year-old, who left Sky Sports last year due to his condition, was expected to host the three-day event at the Motorpoint Arena in Nottingham this weekend but will no longer be doing so. He has urged fans to attend the event, insisting it will be "spectacular".
Kamara is one of the most popular figures in English football after a stellar career as a player, manager, pundit and TV presenter. He has previously said that apraxia of speech "feels like someone has taken over my voice box", with dozens of fans wishing him the best.
Kamara confirmed the news on Monday. He tweeted: "Due to my ongoing speech problems I have reluctantly pulled out of presenting this year’s UK’s Strongest Man. The show will be In Nottingham this weekend. If you fancy? Please go along - it’s spectacular."
Apraxia of speech is a motor disorder that makes it difficult to speak. Those who have apraxia of speech often struggle to move their lips or tongue in the right way. Sometimes, individuals cannot speak at all.
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Kamara was one of the most popular pundits on Soccer Saturday for more than two decades thanks to his unique style of reporting. His catchphrase "unbelievable Jeff" - delivered when talking to presenter Jeff Stelling - is one of the most iconic in sport.
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As well as working as a pundit, Kamara also established himself as a TV presenter. He co-hosted Goals on Sunday on Sky Sports for 22 years, with Ben Shephard joining him for much of that time. The two still host Kammy & Ben's Proper Football Podcast together.
Before moving into television, Kamara played top-fight football for Leeds, Luton, Sheffield United and Middlesbrough as a midfielder. He also played for Portsmouth, Swindon, Brentford, Stoke and Bradford lower down the English football pyramid.
Kamara moved into management in November 1995, winning promotion to Division One (now the Championship) with Bradford the following May. He left Valley Parade in January 1998 and became the Stoke manager, but was dismissed three months later.
Kamara opened up on his battle with apraxia of speech during an appearance on The Diary Of A CEO podcast. He said: "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, you’ve seen me on the results and 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."
Kamara received his MBE from Prince William in March for services to football, anti-racism and charity. He appropriately described the honour as "unbelievable".