The fourth edition of the Westin Malta Football Awards being held on 16 July at the Westin Dragonara in St Julian’s, was launched yesterday.
Addressing a news conference at midday, Sandro Micallef, chairperson of the Organising Committee, revealed that there will be three new awards this year which will be added to the others which had been contested last year. These will be The Best Gozo Player, The Best Futsal Player and The Favourite Player of the public.
As to the Gozo award, Micallef explained that only Gozitan players of Maltese nationality would be eligible for the vote. Journalists who followed the Gozo championship regularly as well as the coaches of the first division teams were eligible to vote.
For the Futsal award, coaches or representatives of the first division teams were eligible to vote for players in the first division only. The Favourite Player of the Public award is being sponsored by Powerade. Six players have been selected by the organising committee and have been given a number. The public is being urged to send as SMS to the number of their favourite player to determine the winner.
The six players and their numbers are: Gilbert Agius (5064001); Jeffrey Chetcuti (50614002), Andrew Cohen (50614003), Haruna Doda (50614004), Reuben Gauci (50614005), Ivan Woods 5061 4006. There is a seventh line (50614007) for those who wish to name any other player of their choice. Till yesterday Julian Briffa had taken Jeffrey Chetcuti’s place among the top six. Those who receive the most votes will finally make it to the 16 July evening.
The awards to be given this year will be the following:
Best Goalkeeper, Best Defender, Best Midfielder, Best Striker, Most Promising Youngster, Best Coach, Best Foreign Player, Best Maltese Player, Best goal of the season, Best Female player, Best Futsal Player, Best Gozitan Player, Favourite Player of the Public.
Those who have voted include the ten Premier club presidents, the coaches and the captains as well as 25 journalists who have followed Maltese Premier League football regularly throughout the past season.
The awards are to be presented by former and veteran journalists who have been invited especially for this occasion.
The Awards night is, for the first time, being organised by Events Services. The event is again being transmitted live by Net TV and only 100 tickets will be on sale. The other places are reserved for the distinguished guests.
The show is sponsored by the Ministry of Education, Employment and Youths, Westin Dragonara, Melita Digital, Vodafone, Mondo Turf, Powerade, Sign it, Heineken, TeamSport, Hacienda and XFM, among others.