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EX-VIF-TIP: Luton Shelton was found dead in his own home on Friday. Photo: Magnar Kirknes
Former Vålerenga player Luton Shelton has died at 35. Tor Ole Skullerud will remember the Jamaican for the big smile.
Vålerenga himself writes this on Twitter. Sportsmax.tv writes that Shelton was found dead in his own home on Friday.
Shelton played for Vålerenga from 2008 to 2011 and became cup champion with the club in 2008. The Jamaican scored 17 goals in 58 Elite Series matches for Vålerenga.
– It is very sad and horrible to hear this, says Tor Ole Skullerud to VG.
– It’s a completely tragic story. I sympathize with those who are close. He was a great kid and a great kid who came to Norway to play soccer, says Skullerud. Skullerud was Vålerenga’s assistant coach in 2008 and 2009, and so it was when Vålerenga took the gold cup in 2008.
– He was a good footballer for Vålerenga and for his country. Very good boy. When I first heard about that fate, you were affected. It is completely useless to know that this has happened. It is very tragic, continues Skullerud.
In 2018 it was learned that Shelton had contracted the deadly disease ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis). It is a disease that increasingly destroys the nerves of the spinal cord and brain, so that the patient gradually loses control of the muscles controlled by the will.
CUP CHAMPION: Luton Shelton with the Vålerenga team in 2008, after 4-1 over Stabæk 4-1 in the cup final. In front of left, Allan Jepsen, Mohammed Abdellaoue, Lars Iver Strand, Harmeet Singh, Daniel Fredheim Holm and Martin Andresen. In the middle row on the left: Kristofer Hæstad, Morten Berre, Bojan Zajic, Luton Shelton and Kjetil Wæhler. Behind Fredrik Carlsen, André Muri, Troy Perkins, Erik Hagen, Øyvind Bolthof, Jarl André Storbæk, Adnan Haidar, Freddy dos Santos and Ronny Johnsen. Photo: Heiko Junge / SCANPIX
Skullerud remembers Shelton for the good smile.
– I remember when we took him to Vålerenga. One of the first things he participated in was a “hellish week” where he was tested correctly, but he was walking around with a big smile, even though he thought it was exhausting like everyone else.
– Of course I remember speed like everyone else and what a footballer he was. It was an enrichment for us. He was a great signing for Vålerenga at the time. He did a lot of good things and participated in a lot of fun things at Vålerenga.
Shelton won 73 games for the Jamaica team and is the top scorer with 35 goals.
In addition to Vålerenga, Shelton played for Harbor View, Helsingborg, Sheffield United, Aalborg, Krabükspor and Volga Nizhny Novogorod. The Jamaican played the last game of his career for Harbor View in 2017. Shelton signed for Vålerenga after his stint at Sheffield United and Sheffield United captain Billy Sharp is among those who have taken to social media to remember to Shelton.
