Watch: Nadur’s Sultana named GFA Player of the Year

The Gozitan football community came together in a night of celebration and recognition as the Gozo Football Association (GFA) hosted its annual awards event.

The event showcased the remarkable talent and achievements of players, coaches, and officials throughout the 2023-24 season.

The main protagonists of the GFA Awards were goalkeeper Steve Sultana, together with Marcelo Barbosa and Wellington Valentim De Souza who won two honours each.

Sultana, the 33-year-old goalkeeper and captain of champions Nadur Youngsters, was named the GFA Player of the Year for the second time in his career and was presented with the maiden honour of Best Goalkeeper of the Year.

Striker Barbosa received two honours, that of top scorer of the GFA Division One with 21 goals, as well as the Best Foreign Player of the top flight.

Qala Saints, who ended the season as the runners-up of the championship and winners of the GFA Division One KO and GFA Cup saw players winning three individual honours.

Shaun Bajada was chosen as the Coach of the Year, Nathan Chukwudi Njoku was the Best Young Player, and goalkeeper Owen Attard won the People’s Choice Award.

The superiority of Victoria Hotspurs in the Second Division in Gozo was also reflected in the individual awards for the category. Captain Shaun Attard won the Best Player award, while Wellington received the Best Foreign Player trophy and that of the top scorer of the division with 22 goals.

Second Division side St Lawrence Spurs won the Fair Play Award.

Moreover, the late Mario Borg, a dedicated representative for St Lawrence Spurs in the GFA Council, was posthumously honoured as the GFA Official of the Year.

The Best Player in the U-19 category was Tomas Sciberras of Għajnsielem, while Matthias Said of Nadur/Qala was the top scorer of the category with 15 goals.

During the ceremony, the GFA presented a special award to Gozitan players Maria Farrugia, Valentina Rapa, Anne-Marie Said and Emma Xuereb who were part of the Malta national team that won promotion in the UEFA Women’s Nations League.

Veteran player Chris Camilleri, who played for Xaghra United this season, was honoured for reaching his 700th appearance in domestic competitions. He retains the national record as the player who played the most domestic matches in Malta and Gozo.

The GFA presented a signed Gozo shirt as an appreciation to the Minister for Gozo Clint Camilleri, for his support for the island’s participation in the International Island Games held in Guernsey last year.

Individual Honours

GFA Player of the Year: Steve Sultana (Nadur Youngsters).
GFA Goalkeeper of the Year: Steve Sultana (Nadur Youngsters).
GFA People’s Choice Award: Owen Attard (Qala Saints).
GFA Coach of the Year: Shaun Bajada (Qala Saints).
GFA Foreign Player of the Year: Marcelo Barbosa (Nadur Youngsters).
Division One top scorer: Marcelo Barbosa (Nadur Youngsters).
GFA Young Player of the Year: Nathan Chukwudi Njoku (Qala Saints).
GFA Division Two Player of the Year: Shaun Attard (Victoria Hotspurs).
Division Two Foreign Player of the Year: Wellington (Victoria Hotspurs).
Division Two top scorer: Wellington (Victoria Hotspurs).
GFA U-19 Player of the Year: Tomas Sciberras (Għajnsielem)
GFA U-19 top scorer: Matthias Said (Nadur/Qala).
GFA Official of the Year: Mario Borg (St Lawrence Spurs).
GFA Fair Play Award: St Lawrence Spurs.