by Shona Zammit grabbed the MFA Women’s Footballer Of The Year, while Maia Gauci claimed the Best Youth Player award. The two reflected on the path to achieve these honours, while Zammit discussed the prospect of achieving more memorable moments to close off the 2024/25 season on Friday in the Maltese shirt.
Gauci Grabs Best Youth League Player
The Malta Football Association’s award for Best Female Youth League player was grabbed by Birkirkara’s Maia Gauci. Packing plenty of speed, the youngster has often been trusted on the wings, while also making appearances at senior level throughout the season for the Stripes under Vince Galea’s tutelage. She beat teammate Lara May Azzopardi and Swieqi United’s Eva Koneva for the award on the night.
According to the regulations governing the award, the shortlist for the Best Youth League Player is made by the Technical Director of the MFA, together with the U19 Head Coach and U19 Assistant Coach. The final voting is done by the trio together with the coaches, captains and one club official from each competing team in the league.
Questioned about being chosen by this panel, Maia Gauci replied, “I am very grateful that they gave me this award and it is a big satisfaction to know that they’ve seen in me the player that I’ve always worked hard to become to this day.”
Meanwhile, Gauci has also had the honour of lifting titles with Birkirkara in the past, but ultimately earns this accolade in a trying season for the Stripes. This, after so many dominant seasons at senior and youth level. Questioned about the experiences gained in youth but also at senior level throughout the year, despite lack of trophies, Gauci’s response points toward an ultimate passion for playing the game, “Personally I think that you are not only a winner when you win titles, but you are a winner when you play your heart out in every match.”
Zammit Claims Best Player Of The Year
Meanwhile, Shona Zammit (Swieqi United) and Birkirkara’s Alexander Satariano grabbed the award for Footballer of The Year in the women’s and men’s categories.
Shona Zammit beat teammate Emma Xuereb, together with Nicole Sciberras (Hibernians), Maria Farrugia (Sheffield United Women) and Haley Bugeja (Inter Women). The Swieqi United skipper has swept the awards for Best Player as given by the Malta Football Player’s Association (MFPA), the Malta Football Coaches Association (MFCA) and now the MFA.
Shona Zammit credited the team alongside her while beaming with pride in claiming the individual accolade following a successful season, “Of course it is a team sport, so winning the trophies with the team is the first aim. It wasn’t really in the plan to win the league considering how we started but I am of course very happy we did it. Getting this individual accolade is a bonus and ultimately I have absolute gratitude to the team in earning this award because I would not be here without them.”
The success this year has come on the back of previously trying season, with the midfielder questioned about how she bounced back following challenging periods, “It was not only just one season, we lacked stability for three years between coaching and also player changes. So, to keep the belief in a project for another season after these disappointments was tough. However, I think the club has always backed us and showed us that things will be different at the start of the season and I think players who have been there like me gave another chance. It has led to these successes on a team and individual level.”
However, Shona Zammit’s 2024/25 football calendar is not closed just yet and there’s two other milestones which the midfielder hopes to achieve. One assumes that the Best Footballer of the Year will be among those selected by Manuela Tesse as Malta charges into the National Stadium for a potentially decisive encounter on Friday (30th May) at 19:00 as they face Cyprus in the UEFA Women’s Nations League. A victory for Malta will secure promotion to League B. It will be the penultimate match with Malta also travelling to Andorra for a final match on the 3rd of June.
Probed into whether earning such accolades adds to the motivation for even better showings, Shona Zammit expressed the excitement and pride in representing the nation is unparalleled. “I think there is never any additional motivation needed to play for the national team as it brings such pride with it. However, the match in particular is special. I have never had the opportunity to play at the National Stadium, so to do so would be a dream come true. The fact that it could be a decisive match in that pitch makes it even more special and I hope it will be another memorable day for us all.”
Maria Farrugia Earns The Gozitan Achievement Award
Another of Malta’s Women was recognised on the night, with the Gozitan Achievement Award being given to Maria Farrugia. She was awarded for a strong season in club and national team colours. Farrugia is also expected to be among those chosen by Manuela Tesse as Malta aim for maximum points against Cyprus and Andorra.
She becomes the second recipient of the award and also the second from Malta Women’s National Team, after Ann-Marie Said was recognised last season.
The full list of award winners on the night is listed below.
Assikura Best Youth League Player: Maia Gauci (Birkirkara)
Best Youth League Player: Zak Barbara (Valletta)
BOV Young Player of the Year Award: Sven Xerri (Hamrun Spartans)
IZIBET National Amateur League 1 Best Player: Julian Azzopardi (Birzebbuga St Peter’s Montekristo)
IZIBET National Amateur League 2 Best Player: Ferdinando Apap (Victoria Hotspurs)
Fair Play Award: Rabat Ajax Football Club
The Gozitan Achievement Award: Maria Farrugia (Sheffield United)
Foreign Player of the Year Award: Maxuell Maia da Silva (Birkirkara)
President’s Award: Joe Cini
The Football Social Responsibility Award: Hamrun Spartans Football Club
BOV Challenge League Best Player: Brandon Paiber (Valletta)
Coach of the Year Award: Darren Abdilla (Floriana)
Hall of Fame: Antonio P. Briguglio
Best Goal of the Year Award: Carlo Zammit Lonardelli (Floriana vs Gzira United)
Footballer of the Year (Women): Shona Zammit (Swieqi United)
Footballer of the Year (Men): Alexander Satariano (Birkirkara)
Top Scorers:
360Sports Malta Premier – Maxuell Maia da Silva (Birkirkara): 22 goals
BOV Challenge League – Sulahmana Mamadu Bah (Zurrieq): 20 goals
IZIBET National Amateur League 1 – Joshua Ojelabi (Marsaskala): 20 goals
IZIBET National Amateur League 2 – Timothy Thomas (Kalkara United): 17 goals
Assikura Women’s League – Hailey Russell (San Gwann): 27 goals
Best XI of All Time
Goalkeeper: David Cluett
Right-back: David Carabott
Centre-backs: John Holland and John Buttigieg
Left-back: Lolly Debattista
Holding midfielder: Joe Brincat
Central midfielder: Raymond Vella
Right winger: Gilbert Agius
Left winger: Michael Degiorgio
Forwards: Carmel Busuttil and Michael Mifsud
Lead Image: Malta FA
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