Replay Gala Night finalists unveiled

The finalists for Tuesday’s Replay Gala Night, sponsored by The Gram Collections, were announced this week.

The number of contenders in each category has been whittled down to four. A panel of 12 football journalists voted for their top five players, coaches and referees in nine categories. Their votes were carried forward to the final adjudicating phase where a pool of eight other leading football pundits selected the winners.

The Top Star and Young Star Player Awards have created a huge response from players of all the Premier League clubs who were asked to name their top five preferences. The coaches of the 10 top-flight clubs have taken part in a poll that will determine the winner of the Top Star Coach Award.

In other categories, the coaches of the 10 Division One teams and three correspondents voted for the best first division player. Also, the captains of the teams in the women’s top league voted for the top female player.

A new award this year is the best U-17 player. Coaches of the MFA Technical Centre, two youth football reporters and the U-17 coaches voted for this accolade.

The Premier League Best XI will be revealed during Replay Gala Night on Tuesday evening.

The 10 Premier League coaches have been asked to name the best player for every position. Mean-while, fans and viewers of Replay can vote for the BOV Premier League top player by sending a text message on 506 170 91.

Tuesday’s event will be broadcast live on Net TV, starting at 8.30 p.m.

The finalists
Best goalkeeper: Omar Borg (Ħamrun); David Cassar (Tarxien); Andrew Hogg (Valletta); Lotfi Saidi (Floriana).
Best defender: Steve Borg (Valletta); Jonathan Caruana (Valletta); Tyrone Farrugia (Floriana); Jason Vandelannoite (Qormi).
Best midfielder: Gilbert Agius (Valletta); Roderick Briffa (Valletta); Paul Fenech (Birkirkara); Ryan Fenech (Valletta).
Best striker: Denni (Valletta); Alfred Effiong (Marsaxlokk); Daniel Nwoke (Floriana); Terrence Scerri (Valletta).
Best coach: N. Coleiro (Tarxien); P. Curmi (Marsaxlokk); M. Woods (Floriana); J. Zerafa (Valletta).
Best referee: Marco Borg, Chris Lautier, Alan Mario Sant, Clayton Pisani.
Best foreign player: Denni (Valletta); Nwoke (Floriana); Sergio (Tarxien); Vandelannoite (Qormi).
Best Maltese player: Gilbert Agius (Valletta); Briffa (Valletta); Caruana (Valletta); Gareth Sciberras (Marsaxlokk).
Best overall player: Gilbert Agius (Valletta); Briffa (Valletta); Caruana (Valletta); Denni (Valletta).
Young star player: Borg (Valletta); Farrugia (Floriana); Leighton Grech (Vittoriosa); Joseph Zerafa (Birkirkara).
Top star player award: Gilbert Agius (Valletta); Briffa (Valletta); Denni (Valletta); Fenech (Valletta).
Top star coach award: Coleiro (Tarxien); Curmi (Marsaxlokk); Woods (Floriana); Zerafa (Valletta).
Best Division One player: Pedro Calcado (Balzan); Gilbert Martin (Mosta); John Paul Muscat (Mqabba); Zach Muscat (Pietà).
Best U-17: Terence Agius (Pietà); Ryan Camenzuli (Birkirkara); Luke Montebello (Birkirkara); Brandon Muscat (Hibernians).
Best female player: Ylenia Carabott (Hibs); Jocelyn Gafa (Gozo); Antoinette Sammut (Mġarr); Dorianne Theuma (Mosta).
Best club website: Birkirkara, Floriana, Mdina Knights, Valletta.