Sliema and Malta midfielder Roderick Bajada is in the lead in the voting by the public for the Best Maltese Player Award in the Malta Football Awards edition.

The finals night is to be held on Wednesday 7 June at the Corinthia Palace Hotel in Attard and will be screened live on Melita Cable’s Sports and Information Channels, which will be available to all clients of Melita Cable.

The organisers of the event, Events Services, said it is the first time that the public is being given the opportunity to have its say by voting for the Best Maltese Player.

At present, Bajada is leading Etienne Barbara and Michael Galea, both of Birkirkara. Other players receiving votes are Andrew Cohen of Hibernians, Simon Agius of Floriana, Gilbert Agius of Valletta, Dyson Falzon of Mosta and Brian Said of Sliema.

The public can continue voting through an SMS on No 50614005 quoting the name of the favourite player.

The other categories being contested are Best Goalkeeper, Best Defender, Best Midfielder, Best Striker, Most Promising Youngster, Best Coach, Best Foreign Player, Best Goal of the season, Best Player in the first division and the Best Veteran Player over 36 years. Other awards include those for the Best Player Futsal, the Best Gozitan Player and the Best women’s player.

Sandro Micallef, chairman of the Organising Committee, said the finalists in all the categories will be known by next Monday.