2009 Malta Football Awards on June 2

With the 2008-09 Premier League season set for a thrilling finale, Events Services could not have picked a better time to launch this year's Melita Malta Football Awards.

Now in their eighth edition, these awards have become an eagerly-awaited appointment in the local football calendar.

Sandro Micallef, chairperson of the organising committee of the Malta Football Awards, told a news conference yesterday that this year's presentation ceremony will be held on Tuesday, June 2 at the Grand Hotel Excelsior.

Micallef explained that the decision to stage the gala night on a weekday was conditioned by the departure of Malta's national squad to the Czech Republic on June 3 for a friendly match ahead of their June 10 World Cup qualifier in Sweden.

In keeping with their promise of adding a new award before every edition, the organisers have introduced a new category for the best third division player. The public's favourite player accolade has also been reinstated, meaning that the fans can again vote for their top performer this season by sending an sms to 5061 4914.

The 18 categories in this year's Malta Football Awards are the following: best goalkeeper, best defender, best midfielder, best striker, most promising youngster, best coach, best foreign player, best local player, best goal of the season, best women's league player, best futsal first division player, best GFA division one player, best first division player, best second division player, best third division player, best O-35 player, special career award/s and public's favourite player.

Catherine Xuereb, the production manager of the awards who will be presenting the awards' ceremony together with TV sports journalist Clinton Buhagiar, named the seven Premier League players who are in contention for the best veteran award. These are Stefan Sultana (Ħamrun), Branko Nisevic, Lucian Dronca and Jeffrey Chetcuti (all Sliema), Brian Said (Marsaxlokk), David Camilleri (Tarxien Rainbows) and Gilbert Agius (Valletta).

There will be three finalists in each category with the winner being announced during the presentation ceremony. The awards linked to the BOV Premier League are voted for by 45 journalists plus the president, coach and captain of each of the 10 clubs in this season's top flight.

Clyde Puli, the Parliamentary Secretary for Youth and Sport, reiterated the government's support for the Malta Football Awards.

"The government has been backing this event since its inception," Puli said. "It's our duty, through the Kunsill Malti għall-iSport, to do all we can to promote sport and these awards serve this purpose. They recognise the achievements of football players and coaches, in the process creating role models for the young generation."