Watford’s Ken Sema gives a very brave post-match interview as he battles with a stammer, with footage of his speech going viral online.
He scored twice in their win over West Brom on Monday night and came out to conduct and interview after the game, and while struggling to get some words out, he didn’t let it phase him, carrying on for around two minutes.
This caught the attention of HLTCO, who tweeted: “Watford’s Ken Sema scored twice in their win over West Brom last night. He suffers with a stammer but still comes out and conducts post-match interviews in front of the cameras when the moment calls it. Top man. ❤️”
Watford’s Ken Sema scored twice in their win over West Brom last night. He suffers with a stammer but still comes out and conducts post-match interviews in front of the cameras when the moment calls it.
Top man. ❤️
— HLTCO (@HLTCO) February 21, 2023
Interviewer: “Ken, two goals today. Congratulations. That must’ve felt good.
Ken: Thank you. Yeah, of course. Obviously after a while now I had my injury and stuff, so, like, yeah, I’m happy with the goals. I’m happy with the win today as well. It wasn’t a must win here at home, it was a good one.
Interviewer: Can you talk us through your first goal? Getting on the end of Keinan Davis’s shot.
Ken: Obviously, yeah, he had like on target, on the keeper and then I was just there and he just was like, right on my foot and I just smashed it onto the goal. It was an easy one. So, yeah, I’m happy with it.
Interviewer: How good did it feel to celebrate in front of the supporters as well after, as you mentioned your injury?
Ken: Yeah, obviously it was amazing. After a while on my rehab and stuff, I did everything I could to come back here stronger and scoring today. A win today feels good, obviously.
Interviewer: And the second goal is definitely on target, wasn’t it?
Ken: Yeah, for sure. It was a bit of a luck, I guess, but you need to have it as well in football. So it was good.
Interviewer: We didn’t always play amazing today, but how important will this win now? Going into more important games like Sheffield United.
Ken: Very important one now, you know, like a win at home, important confidence as well, and now against a strong team as well. So, yeah, it’s good.
Watford defeated a determined West Brom team in an entertaining match at Vicarage Road. This allowed them to get back into the Championship playoff places.
The Baggies were eventually defeated by a Ken Sema shot which was deflected in by Erik Pieters. This keeps them at 10th place in the table, four points away from the top-six.
Sema had given Watford an early-half lead. She had scored high from close range after Darnell Furlong had stopped an attempt by Keinan Davis.
West Brom made a double substitution at half time, Conor Townsend appearing in the box to send the ball past Daniel Bachmann.
Watford winger Ismaila Sarr, who scored from within his own half in August’s 1-1 draw in The Hawthorns, looked to have been the decisive contributor with a fine finish into the corner. However, the Hornets took the lead when Jed Wallace jumped on Bachmann’s poor pass to level the scoreline.
But, Slaven Bilic celebrated the win against his former club when Sema came in from the right and hit home from the edge of the box. Defender Pieters was not able to stop that one.
This is what social media users said as Watford’s Ken Sema gives a very brave post-match interview as he battles with a stammer…
@Mrclear12: Not a Watford fan but just see this and hope he gets all the praise in the world for this interview. Congratulations on a great game Ken and even better show of quality after
@nordinwooter: King on and off the pitch 👑🐝🇸🇪
@AllegedlyR: Got to love Ken. Gets about his business no fuss and is a real hardworker for the team. A top Championship player!
@AdamBronkhorst: So much respect for this man and Watford Legend.
@WFCD0M: Top man Ken @Semaken both my boys needed speech therapy when they were young so it’s great that they now have an idol on and off the pitch. Excellent performance last night, it was a fantastic game to watch. @WatfordFC
@hornetsnestwfc: Can’t help but love @Semaken. His attitude and the way he represents the club on and off the pitch is wonderful. Delighted for the king tonight 👑 #WatfordFC
@CrossbarRattle: I never knew King Ken Sema had a stutter, love him even more
@douglas_orns: My favourite player by a mile. Epitomises everything that our football club SHOULD be. Keep going King Ken 🐐🐝
@miyaarose_: A true goat on & off the pitch. When English is not be your first language & you also have a stammer just look at the confidence, Ken proving nothing in life has to hold you back 💛👑
@JackWFC1234: I bloody love this man with all my heart. What a player and what a guy 🫶 Especially having the bravery to speak after the game given the chances are his speech disorder would cause him to mess up a little. I love everything about him. #WatfordFC
@petercassidy20: As someone who suffered from a bad stammer as a boy and felt so much shame and embarrassment about it, (and felt like the only person in the world with it at times) I can’t explain how much young me would have appreciated seeing this from a top player 👏
@JthfcHotspur: Respect. Doesn’t matter what barriers you have , football is life
@MartinScott010: Those who suffer with a stammer know the pressure and stresses of speaking on camera. Remember the only way to overcome this is to keep putting yourself in these situations and embracing it! Well done Ken 👍 #embraceit #overcomeit
@Robert_Mann_: Added to niche list of “sporting role models who stammer” – joining Kelly Brown, Brandon Shell, and James Rodríguez. Love it!
@CoachwhoStutter: What a man! Going on camera and being interviewed when you stutter can be terrifying – this shows a lot of courage! Love it @Semaken
@LocoMilkyJoe: Love him, can be so under appreciated. Well deserved MOTM
@RobertJA97: This man is an inspiration to people with a disability or disorder that you can achieve your dreams, i have a always been a Ken Sema fan, always puts in a shift! Congrats @Semaken brilliant performance 🐝 #WatfordFC
@AlexBartnik: Quality this. Inspirational for anyone with a speech impediment
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