The second edition of Replay Gala Night, to be held in conjunction with Net Television at the Grand Hotel Excelsior in Floriana on Friday 4 July, will have an innovation this time round.

This consists of two new special awards for the Top Star and Future Star. Apart from these, however, there will also be other innovations, those of the best acquisition of the season, the best official and the best official website of a club.

Addressing the press yesterday morning, Chris Micallef, on behalf of the organisers, said every player who took part in the Premier League the past season – even if a player took part for just a few seconds – will be eligible to vote for their own choice in these two awards.

He added that there will be a list of nominated players for the players to vote for. Players cannot vote for themselves or for club mates. He said several votes had already been received, but he appealed to all players to send in their preferences as quickly as possible.

Robert Cutajar, who will be presenting the Gala Night on Net TV together with Louise Tedesco, told the audience that there will also be a special prize for the best player to be selected by the public. “Every viewer and Maltese football fan will be eligible to vote for their favourite by sending an SMS on 50615050. There are various prizes to be won,” he revealed.

Cutajar also said that the two special awards – Top and Future Star – were equivalent to those held in England for the PFA Players ‘Player of the Year and PFA’s Young Player of the Year awards. He said he saw no reason why these two awards cannot also become very popular in Malta after having become so popular in England.

Charles Camenzuli, a Net TV journalist, later explained how the voting system will work with the final voting being held on the night itself through the journalists’ votes.

Other awards during that night will be presented to the Goalkeeper, Defender, Midfielder, Striker, Coach, Official/administrator, Under 21 player, Foreign Player, Maltese Player and First Division player.

Micallef also said that a person, still unnamed, who has contributed over 60 years to Maltese football, will also be given a special recognition on this occasion.

The organisers thanked their sponsors – Eurosport, Coldfresh Red Energy, Heineken, Caccu Social Club and Repro House Ltd – without whose support such an event is impossible to be held.