More power to the public as organisers unveil two new categories

The countdown for the 2006-2007 Melita Digital Malta Football Awards began yesterday when the sixth edition of this annual football event was launched at the Corinthia Palace Hotel, Attard.

Sandro Micallef, chairman of the organising committee, announced that over 20 awards will be presented to the winners of the various categories during a gala night at the Corinthia Palace Hotel on June 9.

As has become customary since the awards' inception in 2001, the organisers are introducing new initiatives to enhance the allure of this coming edition.

The latest entry will reward the Most Colourful Support in the Premier League. The winner of this award will be chosen by the public via SMS voting (50614914).

Also for this year, the organisers have renewed their association with General Soft Drinks Limited for the creation of a new award - the Outstanding Player of season 2006-2007.

Micallef and his allies have joined forces with the team behind MFA Magazine, the association's weekly football programme on Smash TV, to maximise the publicity for this new award.

Football fans can vote for the Outstanding Player Award by sending a text message, indicating the name of their preferred player, on 50614097.

The latest voting update sees Marsaxlokk midfielder Kevin Sammut on top of the list ahead of Saviour Darmanin and Justin Haber, the goalkeepers of Valletta and Marsaxlokk respectively.

The Best Maltese Player award, widely considered as the most prestigious accolade, has been retained on the list of categories and as in previous years, the presidents, coaches and captains of the 10 Premier League clubs and 30 football journalists will vote for the bulk of the awards linked with Premier League football.

The full list of the awards is:

Best Goalkeeper (in honour of David Cluett), Best Defender, Best Midfielder, Best Forward, Most Promising Youngster, Best Coach, Best Foreign Player, Best Maltese Player, Best Goal, Best Woman Player, Best Futsal Player, Best GFA Division One Player, Best Veteran Player, Best Division One Player, Outstanding Player and Most Colourful Support.

The organising committee are also encouraging members of the local media and the public to put forward nominations for the Special Career Award/s.

With regards to the Best Goal of the Season award, goals scored by the national team will also be considered.

The organising committee will also discuss a proposal to reduce the age threshold for the Best Veteran from 36 years to 35 in order to widen the pool of candidates.

For the second year in succession, the presentation ceremony will be shown live on Melita Sports Digital One, Channel 47 and Information Channel. Education 22 will broadcast the Gala Night on June 10.

Another source of satisfaction for Events Services, the organisers of the Malta Football Awards, is their growing list of sponsors.

Renowned firms like Melita Digital, Vodafone, General Soft Drinks, TeamSport and Vascas have been joined by others, such as BOV, Strand Electronics, Malta Tourism Authority, Muscat Motors and IFS as official partners.

John Farrugia, vice-president of the Malta FA, and Italico Rota, general manager of the Corinthia Palace Hotel, were present for yesterday's launching.

Farrugia said that, although the Malta FA honour players and teams who distinguish themselves during the season, they also endorse the efforts of Events Services to organise the Malta Football Awards.

"These awards encompass every aspect of local football and are more accessible to the media and general public," Farrugia said.

"They also serve as an incentive for players and coaches to do their best to gain recognition for their efforts."