Nominees for Malta FA Awards announced

The main honours of the night will be the Player of the Year award for both the men’s and women’s categories.

In the men’s category, Ħamrun Spartans and Floriana have two nominations each.

Spartans duo Henry Bonello and Joseph Mbong were both shortlisted alongside Floriana duo Dunstan Vella and Jake Grech. The other nominee is Valletta FC skipper Brandon Paiber.

The women’s accolade will be contended by Mġarr United duo Yulya Carella and Amber Grech, Maria Farrugia, of Bristol City, Nicole Sciberras, of Hibernians, and Stephania Farrugia, of Hibernians.

Malta FA vice-president Adrian Casha highlighted the value of the awards, not just the Footballer of the Year awards, but also several others that reward individuals for their efforts throughout the season.

These include the Fair Play Award, the Football Social Responsibility Award, the President’s Award, as well as the Gozitan Achievement Award, among others.

Additionally, as in previous years, there will be an award for the Best Goal of the Year.

The public will have the opportunity to vote for one of 12 finalists, which will soon be announced.

“The Malta FA Awards are not only an annual accolade recognising the best performers in the men’s and women’s domestic leagues, but also an opportunity to honour individuals whose exemplary behaviour, both on and off the field of play, makes them stand out as true gentlemen and ambassadors of the beautiful game of football,” Casha remarked.

NOMINEES

MFA Footballer of the Year (Male): Henry Bonello (Hamrun Spartans); Jake Grech (Floriana); Joseph Mbong (Hamrun Spartans); Brandon Paiber (Valletta); Dunstan Vella (Floriana).

MFA Footballer of the Year (Female): Yulya Carella (Mġarr United); Maria Farrugia (Bristol City); Stephania Farrugia (Birkirkara); Amber Grech (Mġarr United)
Nicole Sciberras (Hibernians).

Coach of the Year: Thane Micallef (Valletta); Daniel Portela (Floriana); Vincenzo Potenza (Marsaxlokk).

BOV Young Player of the Year: Jake Azzopardi (Valletta); Kean Scicluna (Zabbar St Patrick); Sven Xerri (Ħamrun Spartans).

Foreign Player of the Year: Yuri Messias (Valletta); Joao Souza (Naxxar Lions); Federico Varela (Floriana).

BOV Challenge League Best Player
Oluwatobiloba Awosanya (Balzan); Paul Lapira (Birżebbuga St Peter’s); Daniel Zerafa (Birzebbuga St Peter’s).

BOV Amateur League 1 Best Player: Luka Mijic (Mqabba); Nicholas Schembri (Attard); Precious Nwankwo (Attard).

BOV Amateur League 2 Best Player: Juan Artiaga Roa (Siġġiewi); Ryan Dalli (Kalkara United); Giovanni Galea (Mdina Knights).

Best Youth League Player: Ethan Brincat Winters (St Andrews); Nexile Grech (Swieqi United); Thomas Melillo (Valletta).

Assikura Youth League Best Player: Nyorah Celeste (Hibernians); Stella Francalanza (Birkirkara); Eva Koneva (Swieqi United).

The Gozitan Achievement Award: Rebecca Bajada (Mġarr United); Leanne Cefai (Mġarr United); Benjamin Hili (Swieqi United).