Four City players in the running for MFA award

Four Valletta players are in the running for the 2010/11 MFA footballer of the year award after the final five-man shortlist was announced yesterday evening.

Roderick Briffa, who has already captured a host of prizes at the Malta Football Awards and Replay Gala Night, appears to be the favourite to win the prestigious award for the first time in his career after receiving a maximum of 12 votes in yesterday’s first ballot.

A panel of football journalists and club officials convened at the MFA headquarters to vote for the award finalists.

Jonathan Caruana (11 votes), captain Gilbert Agius (7) and Denni (7) are the other three City players in the final shortlist along with Marsaxlokk’s Gareth Sciberras who collected five first-round votes.

Of the 12 original nominees, seven were eliminated from the contest after the first round.

These were Abubaker Bello Osagie (Qormi), Tyrone Farrugia (Floriana), Ryan Fenech (Valletta), Emiliano Lattes (Birkirkara), Mario Muscat (Hibs), Daniel Nwoke (Floriana) and Jorge Santos Silva (Vittoriosa).

The members of the judging panel took part in a second, secret ballot in which they awarded points to the final five contenders (five the highest mark).

Their votes will now be filtered using a complex formula that takes into account disciplinary records and appearances in domestic competitions and national team.

The winner of the 2010/11 MFA Footballer of the Year will be announced during the association’s awards ceremony, to be held at Le Meridien on July 1.

Birkirkara’s Shaun Bajada won the MFA award last year.