‘You’re not a fraud, you’re UNBELIEVABLE!’: Chris Kamara thanks Middlesbrough fans for their banner of support after the former Sky Sports pundit declared himself a ‘fraud’ as he battles with apraxia of speech
- Chris Kamara has welcomed a banner of support from Middlesbrough fans
- The former Sky Sports pundit had revealed he is battling apraxia of speech
- The 64-year-old said he was ‘a fraud’ as a broadcaster, but Boro fans disagreed
Chris Kamara has thanked Middlesbrough fans for showing their support for the TV presenter during Saturday night’s home game against Rotherham.
Middlesbrough-born Kamara, 64, who left Sky Sports at the end of last season, is battling apraxia of speech and this week revealed he felt “a fraud” as a broadcaster.
Boro fans unfurled a banner during the Sky Bet Championship fixture, which read: ‘You’re not a fraud, you’re unbelievable Kammy.’
The former Portsmouth, Swindon and Leeds midfielder responded on social media, saying on Twitter: ‘Wow that is ‘Unbelievable Jeff’. Thank You’.
‘Unbelievable Jeff’ became one of Kamara’s hugely popular catchphrases during his work as a Sky Sports reporter as he described match action to Soccer Saturday presenter Jeff Stelling.
Kamara told Steven Bartlett’s Diary of a CEO podcast this week that he considered quitting all television work at the end of last season, but after being persuaded to continue, he was ‘doubly busy than what I was before’.
Chris Kamara hailed the support shown by a banner at Middlesbrough’s match on Saturday
When asked how life was for him at the moment, Kamara said on the podcast: ‘Strange in terms of I feel a fraud now in terms of broadcasting – I don’t bring to the table what I used to. So that’s hard.
‘I feel I’m doing these programmes and they’re not getting the best of me, but they’re tolerating me. That’s how it feels.
‘My life away from the screen couldn’t be any better – grandkids, family, it’s perfect.’
Apraxia is a little-understood neurological condition that affects the body’s ability to perform natural motor functions, with many sufferers developing problems with speech.
As previously reported by Sportsmail, Kamara said he felt like quitting as a result of his diagnosis, and did not like to watch himself back on the TV.
Chris Kamara has labelled himself as feeling like a ‘fraud’ following his battle with apraxia
Since joining Sky’s Soccer Saturday in 1999, he has won over the hearts of sports fans, particularly with his iconic catchphrase ‘Unbelievable, Jeff’.
He left the show earlier this year, which led Sky to create a package of the best bits of his time with the broadcaster – which left him feeling very humbled and emotional.
Kamara has taken his presenting talents to other TV programmes, including Ninja Warrior UK and The Games.
The former footballer and Sky Sports pundit (right) has returned to hosting Ninja Warrior UK
WHAT IS APRAXIA OF SPEECH?
Apraxia of speech is a motor speech disorder that makes it difficult to speak.
This disorder can make saying the right sounds and words very difficult and can be observed as slurring.
It is caused by damage to the parts of the brain that control how muscles move, leading to apraxia of speech.
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