by Shona Zammit & Alexander Satariano grabbed the top accolades on the night, with Satariano also becoming the first male to win also the Best Young Player award in the same year. Nicole Sciberras retained the Best Young Player accolade for the women’s game. Paul Zammit & Dorianne Theuma were awarded best coaches, with Theuma also grabbing the Merit Award. A Best XI were chosen for the top leagues in Malta, with Best Challenge League & Best Amateur League players also awarded.
Celebration Of Achievements & Path For The MFPA
The Malta Football Players’ Association (MFPA) awarded 36 individual accolades in its annual Awards night hosted last Monday.
General Secretary Carlo Mamo also highlighted the achievements in the past year, including an agreement in principle regarding changes related to player movement in youth football, as well as propositions related to the Labour Migration Policy.
This, besides giving a view on upcoming projects, including the setting up of two separate boards, one for the men and one for women, to help the MFPA shape its strategy for its members. The Association is also working on an app for members to access all the latest services and news coming from the MFPA, while also working on the continuation of a number of educational initiatives and services.
Individual Accolades
The most prestigious accolades went to Shona Zammit (Swieqi United) & Alexander Satariano (Birkirkara), who were chosen as the Best Players of 2025 in the top two leagues in Malta for the respective categories. This was the second time that Zammit earned the award, who overcame the challenge from strikers Hailey Russell and Valeria Villegas Caly. Meanwhile, Satariano was chosen as the best player, beating the competition from teammate Maxuell Maia and Hamrun Spartans’ goalkeeper, Henry Bonello.
Alexander Satariano also bagged the Best Young Player award for the men’s category, making him the first player to bag both accolades in a single year, while also forming part of the chosen Best XI. Nicole Sciberras retained the accolade in the women’s category.
Meanwhile, Dorianne Theuma (Swieqi United) claimed the Best Coach of the Women’s League award in its introductory year. She was also awarded with the Merit Award in recognition for her outstanding football career in which she became the first Maltese female player to reach 100 caps for the national team, going on to make 118 appearances. During her glittering career, Theuma also won thirteen league titles at club level.
Theuma retired from competitive football last year to focus on her coaching career, guiding Swieqi United to their maiden women’s league title and Super Cup. She received the MFPA Merit Award from Mark Barbara, Deputy General Secretary of the MFPA. Paul Zammit of Sliema Wanderers was chosen as the best coach from the Malta Premier League.
The Challenge League Best Overall Player was deemed to be Brandon Paiber of Valletta. He also bagged the best midfielder award, while teammate Timothy Aquilina was chosen as the best goalkeeper. Zurrieq’s Darren Borg and Sulahmana Bah clinched the awards for best defender and forward respectively.
Meanwhile, Julian Azzopardi claimed the Best Amateur League 1 award. The Birżebbuġa St Peter’s goalkeepeer was prominent during his team’s championship-winning campaign, while Rondinely Monteiro, who plays for National Amateur League 2 winners Victoria Hotspurs, claimed the inaugural Best Amateur League 2 award.
The Best XI
The Best XI were chosen for the top two leagues, the Assikura Women’s League & the Malta Premier League.
Patricia Araujo of Swieqi retained the best goalkeeper award in the Women’s League. Emma Xuereb (Swieqi United) and Rebecca Bajada (Mgarr United) were deemed to be the best full-backs in the league. Rafanny Mendoza Abache won the accolade for best centre-back for the first time, while veteran Charlene Zammit (Birkirkara) completed the defensive unit.
The Best Player, Shona Zammit, was chosen as part of the best midfield unit together with Best Young Player, Nicole Sciberras (Hibernians). Amber Grech (Mgarr United) completed the unit.
The best forwards were deemed to be league top-scorer, Hailey Russell (San Gwann), as well as season debutants Valeria Villegas Caly (Mgarr United) and Erica Bispo (Birkirkara).
Meanwhile, the men’s best goalkeeper was chosen to be Henry Bonello (Hamrun Spartans). Carlo Zammit Lonardelli (Floriana) retained the best full back position, joined by Leandro Aguirre (Marsaxlokk). Best Player Alexander Satariano (Birkirakara) completed the midfield together with Prince Afriyie (Mosta) & Dunstan Vella of Floriana.
The best forwards were chosen to be Mohamed Awad (Sliema Wanderers), Alex Gomes (Marsaxlokk) and league top-scorer Maxuell Maia (Birkirkara).
The full list of winners may be perused below.
MFPA WOMEN’S BEST XI (1-4-3-3)
Goalkeeper: Patricia Araujo Da Silva (Swieqi United)
Centre-backs: Charlene Zammit (Birkirkara); Rafanny Mendoza (Swieqi United).
Right-back: Rebecca Bajada (MÄ¡arr United)
Left-back: Emma Xuereb (Swieqi United)
Midfielders: Amber Grech (MÄ¡arr United); Nicole Sciberras (Hibernians); Shona Zammit (Swieqi United).
Forwards: Erica Bispo (Birkirkara); Hailey Russell (San Ä wann); Valeria Villegas Caly (MÄ¡arr United)
MFPA Women’s Best Coach: Dorianne Theuma (Swieqi United)
MFPA Assikura Merit Award:Â Dorianne Theuma
MFPA MEN’S BEST XI (1-4-3-3)
Goalkeeper: Henry Bonello (Ħamrun Spartans)
Centre-backs: Oualid El Hasni (Floriana); Gabriel Mentz (Gżira United)
Right-back: Carlo Zammit Lonardelli (Floriana)
Left-back: Leandro Aguirre (Marsaxlokk)
Midfielders: Prince Afriyie (Mosta), Alexander Satariano (Birkirkara), Dunstan Vella (Floriana)
Forwards: Mohamed Awad (Sliema Wanderers), Alex Gomes (Marsaxlokk), Maxuell Maia (Birkirkara)
MFPA Men’s Best Coach: Paul Zammit (Sliema Wanderers).
MFPA WOMEN’S BEST XI (1-4-3-3)
Goalkeeper: Patricia Araujo Da Silva (Swieqi United)
Centre-backs: Charlene Zammit (Birkirkara); Rafanny Mendoza (Swieqi United).
Right-back: Rebecca Bajada (MÄ¡arr United)
Left-back: Emma Xuereb (Swieqi United)
Midfielders: Amber Grech (MÄ¡arr United); Nicole Sciberras (Hibernians); Shona Zammit (Swieqi United).
Forwards: Erica Bispo (Birkirkara); Hailey Russell (San Ä wann); Valeria Villegas Caly (MÄ¡arr United)
MFPA Women’s Best Coach: Dorianne Theuma (Swieqi United)
MFPA Best Challenge League Player: Brandon Paiber (Valletta)
MFPA Best Challenge League Goalkeeper: Timothy Aquilina (Valletta)
MFPA Best Challenge League Defender: Darren Borg (Żurrieq)
MFPA Best Challenge League Midfielder: Brandon Paiber (Valletta)
MFPA Best Challenge League Forward: Sulahmana Mamadu Bah (Żurrieq)
MFPA Best Amateur League 1 Player: Julian Azzopardi (Birżebbuġa St Peter’s)
MFPA Best Amateur League 2 Player: Rondinely Monteiro (Victoria Hotspurs)
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