Background

Sky Sports icon Chris Kamara recently shared the challenging childhood of his father, Alimamy Kindo Kamara, who grew up in Sierra Leone. Kamara, born in Middlesbrough in 1957, opened up about his father's early experiences when responding to a charity appeal from Street Child UK on social media.

Escape from Poverty

Kamara revealed that his father left Freetown, Sierra Leone, in 1945 to escape poverty and the mud hut that was their home. He expressed his disappointment that, despite the passage of time, little has changed in Sierra Leone's living conditions.

A Missed Opportunity

Kamara also shared that he had the opportunity to represent Sierra Leone during his playing career. However, he turned it down after England manager Sir Bobby Robson hinted at a potential call-up to the national team. Sadly, the call never came, and Kamara expressed his frustration, joking that he must have had the wrong phone number.

Life After Sky Sports

In 2022, Kamara left his role at Sky Sports due to struggles with his voice, following a diagnosis of apraxia of speech. Despite this setback, Kamara has continued his media work, including hosting ITV's Ninja Warrior UK and co-hosting the BBC's Proper Football podcast alongside Ben Shephard. He recently made an emotional appearance on Britain Get Singing on Christmas Eve.

Chris Kamara's revelations about his father's difficult upbringing in Sierra Leone shed light on the challenges faced by many in the country. His own journey in the world of sports and media continues to inspire and captivate audiences.