Failla leads tight race for 2009 award

Hibernians and Malta wing-back Clayton Failla is leading a tight race for the 2009 MFA Footballer of the Year award after the first phase of the contest was held at the Malta FA offices in Ta' Qali, yesterday.

The panel of club officials and journalists cast their ballot in the first phase of the contest with Failla emerging on top of the candidates with 39 votes, four ahead of team-mates Andrew Cohen and Terrence Scerri.

Sliema Wanderers defender Alex Muscat is also on the 35-point mark with the other finalist in the top five, Anthony Curmi, the Tarxien Rainbows goalkeeper, lagging behind on 21 points.

The winner of the contest will be determined after a more complex formula, where the disciplinary records of all finalists and their appearances for club and country, will be taken into consideration.

The MFA yesterday said that the winner will be announced during Thursday's council meeting at Ta' Qali.

The 2008/09 season has been an outstanding one for Hibernians after clinching their 10th title following a closely-fought battle with Valletta.

Failla was twice voted as player of the month last season and Scerri finished as the league's top scorer with 26 goals. Cohen is the last Hibs player to win the honour following his back-to-back titles in 2005 and 2006.

Muscat also finished his season on a high after scoring two goals in a dramatic FA Trophy final against Valletta. The Wanderers won the match on penalties after a 3-3 draw in extra time.

In the all-time list, Hibernians are the most successful club in the Footballer of the Year contest with 13 titles, compared to Valletta's 12 and Sliema's 11.

Top five players

(after first-round vote)

1. C. Failla (Hibs) - 39 points
2. A. Cohen (Hibs) - 35 points
2. T. Scerri (Hibs) - 35 points
2. A. Muscat (Sliema) - 35 points
5. A. Curmi (Tarxien) - 21 points

Wing-back Clayton Failla.