MFPA Awards: Jade Flask & Sara Saliba Win Best Accolades in the Women’s Categories as MFPA Sets Targets for Improvement

The Malta Football Player Association awards were held yesterday at the Sky Club, which awarded the best eleven players of the women’s and men’s teams amongst others, as nominated by coaches and then voted for by the players.

MFPA WOMEN’S BEST XI

The best eleven awards went to players hailing from five of the seven teams in the league who were chosen in a 4-3-3 formation. Swieqi United and Ghana international Cynthia Konlan took the nod as best goalkeeper, ahead of Birkirkara’s Janice Xuereb.

Birkirkara’s centre-backs Stephania Farrugia and Charlene Zammit were awarded ahead of youngsters Maia Debono (Mgarr United) and Georgiana Mifsud (Raiders Lija FC). Meanwhile, Hibernians FC’s Chloe Ann Ellul was awarded as the best right-back, ahead of Jade Schembri of Swieqi United. Emma Xuereb (Swieqi United) edged out Alishia Sultana (Birkirkara FC) for the left-back accolade.

The midfielders making the best eleven were Brenda Borg (Mgarr United), Ann-Marie Said (Birkirkara FC) and Shona Zammit (Swieqi United). The three have been pivotal in the heart of their respective teams, dictating play and supporting the link from defence to attack.

The best forwards were deemed to be Lexine Farrugia (Raiders Lija FC), Sara Saliba (Birkirkara FC) and Jade Flask (Swieqi United). All three have treated fans to spectacular goal sprees for their respective teams, converting a total of fourty-three goals between them.

MFPA Women’s Best Young Player and Best Player

Sara Saliba took home the MFPA Women’s Best Young Player award, pipping Lexine Farrugia and Maia Debono. Despite her young age, Saliba has been in fine form in her senior appearances with Birkirkara, helping the team secure their eleventh league title by netting eleven goals and assisting a few as well. The striker has also impressed on the international stage at U19 and U16 levels.

The highest accolade of MFPA Women’s Best Player went to Jade Flask. The striker netted an impressive nineteen goals for Swieqi United, creating a considerable gap in the scorer tally that could not be reached by her rivals, despite Flask missing the last portion of the league through injury.

Striving For Improvement in the Women’s Game

The show featured a speech from General Secretary Carlo Mamo who spoke of the work done by the MFPA to support players both on and off the pitch. In relation to the women’s game Mamo spoke of the intention to enter discussions with the Malta Football Association and relevant stakeholders to improve match times (especially for those held during the week), prevention and care of injuries, as well as upgrades of pitches and training facilities. Mamo also spoke of the work being done to make fixtures known from the beginning of the season.

Full List of Nominees & Winners

The show featured identical winners for the men’s premier league, while categories for the challenge league, amateur league, coaches, and referees were also awarded. Matthew Guillaumier took the award as MFPA Men’s Best Player. As expected the Men’s Best XI were dominated by players plying their trade for Hamrun Spartans who have won the league with an impressive tally of points.

Below is the full list of nominees, with winners for the respective categories listed in bold.

MFPA MEN’S BEST XI (3-5-2)

Goalkeepers: Henry Bonello (Ħamrun Spartans); Darijan Zarkov (Gżira United).

Centre-backs: Ferdinando Apap (Hibernians); Ognjen Bjelicic (Ħamrun Spartans); Steve Borg (Ħamrun Spartans); Emerson Marcelina (Ħamrun Spartans); Gabriel Mentz (Gżira United); Enrico Pepe (Birkirkara).

Right wing-backs: Juan Carlos Corbalan (Ħamrun Spartans); Christ Ememe (Mosta.

Left wing-backs: Leandro Aguirre (Marsaxlokk); Ryan Camenzuli (Ħamrun Spartans). 

Midfielders: Boubakary Diarra (Mosta); Matthew Guillaumier (Ħamrun Spartans); Brandon Paiber (Valletta); Roko Prsa (Ħamrun Spartans); Angel Torres (Balzan); Yannick Yankam (Birkirkara).

Forwards: Enzo Daniel Cabrera (Birkirkara); Jefferson de Assis (Gżira United); Jurgen Degabriele (Hibernians); Charles Lokoli Ngoy (Żebbuġ Rangers).

MFPA MEN’S BEST PLAYER – Matthew Guillaumier

All the candidates for the MFPA Men’s Best XI are nominated.

MFPA MEN’S BEST YOUNG PLAYER 

Shaun Dimech (Valletta); Paul Mbong (Birkirkara); Jake Vassallo (Mosta).

MFPA BEST COACH

Darren Abdilla (Gżira United); Branko Nisevic (Ħamrun Spartans); Oliver Spiteri (Balzan); Giovanni Tedesco (Birkirkara).

MFPA WOMEN’S BEST XI (4-3-3)

Goalkeepers: Cynthia Konlan (Swieqi United); Janice Xuereb (Birkirkara).

Centre-backs: Maia Melaine Debono (Mġarr United); Stephania Farrugia (Birkirkara); Georgiana Mifsud (Raiders-Lija); Charlene Zammit (Birkirkara).

Right-backs: Chloe Ann Ellul (Hibernians); Jade Schembri (Swieqi United).

Left-backs: Alishia Sultana (Birkirkara); Emma Xuereb (Swieqi United).

Midfielders: Brenda Borg (Mġarr United); Martina Borg (Hibernians); Veronique Mifsud (Birkirkara); Ann-Marie Said (Birkirkara); Dorianne Theuma (Swieqi United); Shona Zammit (Swieqi United).

Forwards: Rebecca Atinga (Swieqi United); Yulya Carella (Mġarr United); Alexis Veronica Espitia (Hibernians); Lexine Farrugia (Raiders-Lija); Jade Flask (Swieqi United); Sara Saliba (Birkirkara).

MFPA WOMEN’S BEST PLAYER – Jade Flask (Swieqi United)

All the candidates for the MFPA Women’s Best XI are nominated.

MFPA WOMEN’S BEST YOUNG PLAYER 

Maia Melaine Debono (Mġarr United); Lexine Farrugia (Raiders-Lija); Sara Saliba (Birkirkara).

MFPA CHALLENGE LEAGUE

Goalkeepers: Rashed Al Tumi (Sliema Wanderers); Ryan Caruana (Melita); Yenz Cini (Naxxar Lions).

Defenders: Ryan Gilmour Cassar (Naxxar Lions); Carlos Conceicao Filho (Tarxien Rainbows); Murilo Henrique Freire Bernardo (Sliema Wanderers).

Midfielders: Edmond Agius (Sliema Wanderers); Matthew Debattista (Melita); Neil Pace Cocks (Naxxar Lions).

Forwards: Aroldo da Silva Arruda (Fgura United); Erikys  da Silva Ferreira (Naxxar Lions); Lydon Micallef (Sliema Wanderers).

MFPA BEST CHALLENGE LEAGUE PLAYER – Lydon Micallef (Sliema Wanderers).

All the candidates in the four Challenge League categories are nominated.

MFPA BEST AMATEUR LEAGUE PLAYER

Aidan Agius Gilford (Xgħajra Tornados); Saint Ebisindor Christian (Mġarr United);  Romeu Pericles Romao (Msida St Joseph); Timothy Thomas (Senglea Athletic).

MFPA BEST REFEREE

Philip Farrugia; Trustin Farrugia Cann; Fyodor Zammit. 

Photo: Malta Football Players Association