How Manchester United legend helped Liverpool starlet Shelton inch closer to his dream
A South African starlet Gabriano Shelton whose dream is to represent the country, has revealed how Manchester United legend Quinton Fortune helped him reach national team selectors.
Fortune’s former Bafana Bafana teammate, Aaron Mokoena, who serves as assistant coach of the national Under 17 team, said they would be keen to assess the Liverpool academy captain.
SHELTON MEETS FORTUNE
“Quinton [Fortune] was at Liverpool academy watching a game, and Gabriano went to ask him for a photo and spoke to him about wanting to try for the SA U17 team but didn’t know how.
“Quinton Fortune gave Gabriano his number and said he will try to get information for him. Within a week, Quinton gave us the contact of Mr Crowie [Duncan Crowie – South Africa national Under 17 coach],” Shelton’s father, Enrico, told FARPost.
Mokoena also acknowledged that the player had reached out to them through Fortune’s help. “We were made aware of the boy through Quinton Fortune. We will assess him in the near future. The challenge we have at the moment is that we’re preparing a team for the COSAFA tournament [next month].
“So we have already submitted a list of players we’re going to use in the tournament,” Mokoena told FARPost.
Shelton, who captains Liverpool’s Under 15 side, expressed gratitude to Fortune. At the height of his career, the former Bafana Bafana star played for Manchester United between 1999 and 2006.
“Thank God, with the help of Quinton Fortune, Coach Crowie has made contact, and I appreciate it,” the 15-year-old told FARPost.
NO GUARANTEES
He, however, acknowledged there were no guarantees despite his overseas exposure. “I know I have no guarantees because I play in England, and rightly so. That’s not how my parents raised my brother and me.
“I don’t expect special treatment or favouritism. I’m just another young boy that wants to have the opportunity to fight for the SA badge.
“No one has to remind me how hard it is to become a professional player. The chances are tiny, but I can dream, work hard and try my best and if it’s still not good enough, then I can have peace knowing I gave it my all.
“I trust God for the plans He has for my life. I believe in my favourite scripture Philippians 4v13,” he said.
The versatile starlet, who plays right back and central midfield, explained where he is most comfortable operating.
“I’m very comfortable playing at right back because at Liverpool. I have the license to attack and almost play like a second right winger.
“So, at the moment, that’s my first choice, then my second choice is as a six [6] in central defensive midfield.
“I love it there, too, where I can break up play and protect the back four and start attacks.
“The third choice is eight [8] box-to-box. I enjoy it too, because I can get up and down the pitch. For most of my Liverpool career, I’ve played in midfield, it’s only towards the end of last season that I started playing RB, and I love it,” he explained.
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