Ħamrun’s Soares, Swieqi women’s Zammit claim MFPA top awards

Ħamrun Spartans forward Jorge Ailton Soares and Swieqi United women’s team midfielder Shona Zammit claimed the best prizes during the Malta Football Players Association (MFPA) Awards, on Monday.

Soares – known as Dodo – scored 13 goals and made 23 assists in 22 leagues games for the Spartans last season and was named MFPA Best Player of the men’s league.

Zammit, who is part of the Malta women’s national team, was named MFPA Best Player of the women’s league. Last season, she made 13 appearances with five goals for Swieqi.

The ceremony saw the introduction of new awards from the Challenge League and the Women’s League, including the Best XI from the Women’s division.

Meanwhile, Ħamrun Spartans midfielder Matthew Guillaumier took home three awards on the night, including the MFPA Best Young Player.

The 2020/2021 awards night marked the MFPA’s tenth anniversary with general secretary Carlo Mamo looking back at the past ten years and highlighting the MFPA’s major milestones and outlined the Association’s vision during his speech.

Mamo also spoke of the plans to push forward womens’ football because “MFPA believes women should have the same opportunities and rights, especially at national level,” in his words.

The complete list of winners is as follows:

MFPA Best Referee: Trustin Farrugia Cann

MFPA Best Challenge League Goalkeeper: Philip Schranz; MFPA Best Challenge League Defender: Jonathan Bondin; MFPA Best Challenge League Midfielder: Clive Gauci; MFPA Best Challenge league Forward: Lydon Micallef; MFPA Best Challenge League Player Overall: Clive Gauci.

MFPA Best Young Defender: Kurt Shaw; MFPA Best Young Midfielder: Matthew Guillaumier; MFPA Best Young Forward: Paul Mbong.

MFPA Best XI Women League Goalkeeper: Janice Xuereb; MFPA Best XI Women League Left Back: Jade Flask; MFPA Best XI Women League Right Back: Jade Schembri; MFPA Best XI Women League Centre Back: Stephania Farrugia; MFPA Best XI Women League Centre Back: Charlene Zammit; MFPA Best XI Women League Midfielder: Shona Zammit; MFPA Best XI Women League Midfielder: Brenda Borg; MFPA Best XI Women League Midfielder: Dorianne Theuma; MFPA Best XI Women League Forward: Rodianne Zerafa; MFPA Best XI Women League Forward: Raina Giusti; MFPA Best XI Women League Forward: Francesca Chircop.

MFPA Best Coach: Stefano Sanderra; MFPA Best XI League Goalkeeper: Emmanuel Bartolo; MFPA Best XI League Left Back: Ryan Camenzuli; MFPA Best XI League Right Back: Cain Attard; MFPA Best XI League Centre Back: Steve Borg; MFPA Best XI League Centre Back: Kurt Shaw; MFPA Best XI League Midfielder: Matthew Guillaumier; MFPA Best XI League Midfielder: Bjorn Kristensen; MFPA Best XI League Midfielder: Gilmar Da Silva Ribeiro; MFPA Best XI League Forward: Joseph Mbong; MFPA Best XI League Forward: Ailton Jorge Soares (Dodo); MFPA Best XI League Forward: Kevin Ante Rosero.

MFPA Women’s Best Young Player: Veronique Mifsud; MFPA Men’ Best Young Player: Matthew Guillaumier; MFPA Women’s Best Player: Shona Zammit; MFPA Men’s Best Player: Ailton Jorge Soares (Dodo).