Ever-present Scicluna reaps reward for sheer consistency

Centre-stage in end-of-season award ceremonies is usually taken by strikers, regular scorers in the preceding 10 months, or creative midfielders, those who can dribble and pass a ball with precision.

Defenders, however, seldom receive the same acclaim as their attacking counterparts.

Since Andrew Cohen, of Hibs, became the first player to be officially named The Times best player in 2004-05, no defender has captured this award but there's always a first time.

Kenneth Scicluna has broken the stranglehold of midfielders and forwards as he's the winner of our best player award for season 2008-09.

As one of only a handful of players who starred in every league match of their respective club, Scicluna has been rewarded for his consistency.

With a total of 175 points from 28 matches, Scicluna finished only one point ahead of Birkirkara midfielder George Mallia with Clayton Failla, the newly-crowned MFA Player of the Year, in third, half-a-point adrift of the runner-up.

The format of our best player award is simple. Our football reporters award marks, on a scale from one to 10, according to performances in every league match and the one with the best total at the end of the season is declared the winner.

There is no such thing as a perfect formula. While acknowledging the fact that this format penalises those who miss games either through injury or suspension, our philosophy is those who maintain a high level of consistency and figure in most matches are most deserving of this award.

It's no mean feat for any player not to miss a match during a season, more so if you play in defence like Scicluna.

The top 10 in our 2008-09 chart hail from the three clubs that claimed the top three positions in the Premier League, namely champions Hibs, Valletta and Birkirkara.

Hibs have the highest number of top-10 entries, six in all, while runners-up Valletta and Birkirkara have two each.

Given that the four teams in the Relegation Pool played fewer matches than those in the top-six cohort, the players of Qormi, Tarxien Rainbows, Msida St Joseph and Hamrun Spartans had little chance of breaking into the top 10 in this final classification.

Scicluna succeeds Kevin Sammut as The Times best player.

1. Kenneth Scicluna (Valletta) - 175 points (Played 28; Avg. mark 6.3)
The close-season signing of Luke Dimech increased competition for the two centre-half roles at Valletta but Kenneth Scicluna signalled his intent to stay in the team with a string of excellent early-season displays.

At 30, Scicluna is at the height of his career and his contribution last season proved this as the Malta international caught the eye with his clever interceptions and well-timed tackles.

Scicluna's disciplinary record, only three yellow cards in 28 matches, speaks volumes about his maturity.

2. George Mallia (Birkirkara) - 174 points (Played 28; Avg. mark 6.2)
Birkirkara's 2008-09 league campaign was an up-and-down journey. The team's inconsistency prompted coach John Buttigieg to reshuffle his formations on several occasions but George Mallia is the only player to have taken part in every league match for the Stripes.

Mallia was the focal point in midfield and although some of his performances fell below his usual standards, his work ethic always stood out.

Mallia even played through the pain barrier in the final weeks of the season as he had an ankle problem that required surgery.

3. Clayton Failla (Hibernians) - 173.5 points (Played 27; Avg. mark 6.4)
There is not a shade of doubt that Clayton Failla was one of the most outstanding players in the Premier League last season. He has deservedly claimed the lion's share of individual awards, including the MFA Player of the Year title, after his influential displays on the left wing propelled Hibs to the Premier League title.

Failla would probably have added The Times award to his array of titles had he not been suspended for the Championship Pool match against Marsaxlokk.

But, nevertheless, his top-three position is testament to his brilliance.

4. Mario Muscat (Hibernians) - 171 points (Played 28; Avg. mark 6.1)
Another positive season for veteran goalkeeper Mario Muscat. His experience and reassuring presence in goal instilled confidence into his younger team-mates in the Hibs' back four.

Attacking football was the hallmark of Hibs' title success last season but Muscat was also instrumental as he rarely put a foot wrong, especially in crucial matches.

4. Edward Herrera (Hibs) - 171 points (Played 28; Avg. mark 6.1)
The third Hibs player in the top five, Edward Herrera couldn't have hoped for a more rewarding season after joining the Paolites on loan from Melita.

Having served notice of his potential with a string of fine performances for Pietà Hotspurs the season before last, Herrera repaid Mark Miller's trust by establishing himself as Hibs' first-choice player at right-back.

Herrera's best years in football are still ahead of him but the Melita product is already being talked of as the most exciting wing-back in Maltese football.

The others in top 10

6. Terrence Scerri (Hibs) 167
6. Gilbert Agius (Valletta) 167
8. Christian Callejas (Hibs) 165.5
9. Jonathan Caruana (Hibs) 165
10. Paul Fenech (Birkirkara) 163.5

Top five players (by team)

Hibernians
1. Clayton Failla 173.5; 2. Mario Muscat, Edward Herrera 171; 4. Terrence Scerri 167; 5. Christian Callejas 165.5.

Valletta
1. Kenneth Scicluna 175; 2. Gilbert Agius 167; 3. Doding Priso 153.5; 4. Luke Dimech 152.5; 5. Justin Grioli 149.

Birkirkara
1. George Mallia 174; 2. Paul Fenech 163.5; 3. Ron Hartvig 153.5; 4. Shaun Bajada 152; 5. Michael Galea 143.5.

Sliema Wanderers
1. Ivan Woods 160; 2. Alex Muscat 156.5; 3. Matthew Bartolo 155; 4. Ian Azzopadi 146.5; 5. Ian Ciantar 145.5.

Marsaxlokk
1. Marcelo Pereira 158.5; 2. Malcolm Licari 149.5; 3. Carlo Mamo 146.5; 4. Peter Pullicino 143.5; 5. B. Said 140.5.

Floriana
1. Pablo Doffo 158; 2. Orosco Anonam 149; 3. Clyde Camoin 147.5; 4. Sunday Eboh 145.5; 5. Marlon Briffa 135.

Qormi
1. Massimo Grima 145.5; 2. Ramon Dos Santos 138; 3. Roderick Sammut 136; 4. Josivan Da Silva 126.5; 5. J. Farrugia 108.5.

Tarxien Rainbows
1. Daniel Mariano Bueno 152; 2. Anthony Curmi, Ramon Schembri 130; 4. Luke Vella Critien 125.5; 5. Steve Sadowski 124.

Msida St Joseph
1. Matthew Camilleri, Adrian Farrugia 145; 3. Kurt Magro 143; 4. Tyrone Farrugia 141; 5. Stefano Grima 137.

Hamrun Spartans
1. Ryan Fenech, Zoran Levnaic 137.5; 3. Manolito Micallef 125.5; 4. Rupert Mangion 122.5; 5. Steve Meilaq 116.5.