Five players have been shortlisted for the MFA Footballer of the Year award – four of them Valletta FC players - following a preliminary voting which was held yesterday evening at the MFA Headquarters, Ta’ Qali.

The four Valletta players are Gilbert Agius, Roderick Briffa, Jonathan Caruana and Denni Rocha Dos Santos. The other player is Marsaxlokk’s Gareth Sciberras.

Other players who had been nominated were Abubakar Bello-Osagie (Qormi), Tyrone Farrugia (Floriana), Ryan Fenech (Valletta), Emiliano Lattes (Birkirkara), Mario Muscat (Hibernians), Daniel Nwoke (Floriana) and Jorge Santos Silva (Vittoriosa).

The five players will now be awarded points for appearances and deducted points for misconduct. Points for appearances will be awarded in connection with matches in the BOV Premier League, the U*BET FA Trophy and appearances with the national team.

The winner is to be announced during the MFA Honours Ceremony which will be held on Friday 1 July.