Liverpool’s Gabriano Shelton Has South African Hopes After Bukayo Saka, Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford Abuse
- A promising Liverpool starlet has made his international football ambitions as clear as day
- Sixteen-year-old Gabriano Shelton wants to play for South Africa on the global stage
- The treatment of English stars Bukayo Saka, Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford after the Euro 2020 has a lot to do with this
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The Liverpool academy's rising star Gabriano Shelton has made it known that he wants to play for South Africa.
The 16-year-old midfielder reportedly cited the racist abuse and vitriolic criticism levelled at Bukayo Saka, Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford following their penalty shoot-out misses against Italy in the final of Euro 2020 last year.
Source: UGC
According to football journalist Prince Sobayeni, who covers South African footballers abroad extensively, Shelton said:
"We've been trying to get in contact with the SA U17 people but no joy. I tried to make contact with coach Duncan, but he never came back to me… please help because it's frustrating."
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According to Goal, Shelton is indeed eligible to represent the country, though he was born in England. He is a central midfielder who also plays on the wing, and is a fixture in the Merseyside club's under-15 and 16 teams.
The article continued by stating that the youngster told Metro FM in an interview:
"I just want to be given an opportunity to play for South Africa. I thought I wanted to play for South Africa after I saw how the players who play for England and who were born in the United Kingdom were treated after missing penalties. My favourite South African team is Orlando Pirates and my favourite player is Percy Tau."
Promising South African-born Thuto Mojanaga turns out in the colours of the Netherlands and Feyenoord
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Another promising young South African footballer has chosen the Netherlands to further his career.
Thuto Mojanaga recently signed his first professional contract with Dutch Eredivisie club Feyenoord, as reported by Sports Brief. He has already represented the Netherlands at the youth level. Mojanaga's contract will run until the middle of 2025.
The 15-year-old Mojanaga, who has both Dutch and South African parents, started his football career with Supersport United FC. He played in Matsatsantsa's youth academy until 2018. At the age of 12, he made the switch to the Netherlands and became a youth player at PEC Zwolle.
Source: SportsBrief.com
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