Awards finalists announced

The finalists of the 2011 SportMalta Awards were revealed by co-organisers Għaqda Ġurnalisti Sport and the Kunsill Malti ghall-Isport yesterday. The various winners will be announced during a gala night at Ta’ Qali’s MFCC on January 21.

From the 25 finalists, there was only one winner from the previous edition as 2010 Sportswoman of the Year Danica Bonello Spiteri, of triathlon, is again in line to retain her title along with bowling ace Sue Abela, track and field athletes Diane Borg and Rebecca Camilleri and Diane Desira, of squash.

Double Trap shooter William Chetcuti will be vying for his ninth success in the Sportsman of the Year award after a highly-successful year that saw him securing his place in the London Olympics after winning an historic gold medal in a World Cup shoot.

The other contenders will be Steve Camilleri (waterpolo), Kevin Moore (athletics), Brad Hindle Deguara (squash) and Jeremy Saywell (judo).

All 10 finalists in the two main categories are also in contention for the special SportMalta Award won by Massimo Cremona, of table football, last year.

The squash federation is nominated in four categories.

They have two finalists in the Team of the Year award as both the men and women’s national selections were shortlisted for the honour yesterday.

The other candidates in this list are the men’s rugby national team, Middle Sea Race winners Artie crew and the women’s 4x100m athletics quartet.

There was a first-ever nomination for rugby coach Damien Neill and Double Trap mentor Jimmy Bugeja in the Official of the Year award.

They will be contending for the honour with Dione Buhagiar (archery), Julian Pace Bonello (bowling) and Jesmond Caruana (weightlifting).

A surprise omission from the list of finalists in the Official of the Year was that of football coach Ray Farrugia.

Last year, he led Malta U-21 to some positive results in the Euro Championship qualifiers.

The five finalists in the John Debattista Award, reserved for Under-17 athletes, are Nicole Gatt (athletics), Rodmar Pulis (weightlifting), Nicole Muscat (swimming), Nathan Lee Xuereb (shooting) and Colette Sultana (squash).

During the presentations night, the organisers will also honour athletes with special needs.

This year’s winners will be wheelchair dancers Stephen Fenech and Mandy Ghio and Mark Zammit Cutajar, of Special Olympics.

Kenneth Vella, of Kunsill Malti għall-Isport, said that former Italy and Juventus defender Antonio Cabrini had accepted the organisers’ invitation to attend this year’s Gala Night.

Cabrini is a popular personality in the football world as he enjoyed a stellar career which reached its apex when he helped Italy win the 1982 World Cup.

At club level, the wing-back was also part of the Juventus team that won the Champions Cup in 1985 and the Serie A title six times.

Pippo Psaila, chairman organising committee, said an awards promotion will be held at the Cottonera Sports Complex on January 18 where over 2,000 students will be in attendance.

“We shall also step up our marketing drive with a series of advertising spots in the media over the coming days,” he said.

Sportivi 2011 finalists

Sportsman of the year

W. Chetcuti (shooting), S. Camilleri (waterpolo), K. Moore (athletics), B. Hindle Deguara (squash), J. Saywell (judo).

Sportswoman of the year

S. Abela (bowling), D. Bonello Spiteri (triathlon), D. Borg (athletics), R. Camilleri (athletics), D. Desira (squash).

Team of the Year

Rugby (men’s national team), Artie MSR sailing crew, squash (men’s team), squash (women’s team), 4x100metres quartet (women – athletics).

Official of the Year
J. Bugeja (shooting), D. Neill (rugby), D. Buhagiar (archery), J. Caruana (weightlifting), J. Pace Bonello (bowling).

Under-17 award

N. Gatt (athletics), Nicole Muscat (swimming), R. Pulis (weightlifting), N.L. Xuereb (shooting), C. Sultana (squash).