The Malta Football Players Association (MFPA) has announced the nominees for this year’s MFPA Awards.

The candidates will by vying for various honours in 24 different categories with the most prestigious being the MFPA best player accolade.

This year’s awards ceremony will be held on May 2 at the Xara Lodge, Rabat.

“Now in their third year, the MFPA Awards are regarded as one of the highlights of the Maltese football calendar, celebrating the very best of the current season,” the MFPA said in a statement.

The candidates

Best young goalkeeper: Andrea Cassar (Tarxien Rainbows); Christian Cassar (Balzan); Matthew Calleja Cremona (Floriana).

Best young defender: Daniel Zerafa (Tarxien); Emanuel Briffa (Floriana); Samir Arab (Balzan).

Best young midfielder: Bjorn Kristensen (Hibs); Llywelyn Cremona (Valletta); Ryan Camenzuli (Birkirkara).

Best young striker: Ayrton Azzopardi (Tarxien); Luke Montebello (Tarxien); Lydon Micallef (Balzan).

Best XI goalkeeper: A. Cassar (Tarxien); Henry Bonello (Valletta); Mario Muscat (Pembroke).

Best XI left-back: Gary Muir (Sliema Wanderers); Joseph Zerafa (Birkirkara); Steve Bezzina (Balzan).

Best XI right-back: Jonas Ekani (Mosta); Justin Grioli (Balzan); Ryan Camilleri (Valletta).

Best XI central defenders (two Andrei Agius (Hibs); Bruno Oliveria (Tarxien); Elkin Serrano (Balzan); Enrico Pepe (Floriana), Jonathan Caruana (Valletta), Juan Cruz Gill (Valletta).

Best midfielders (three Bjorn Kristensen (Hibs); Claudio Pani (Valletta); Gilmar (Hibs); Jackson Lima (Hibs); Kyle O’Brien (Pembroke); Nicolas Chiesa (Floriana); Paul Fenech (Balzan); Roderick Briffa (Valletta); Ryan Camenzuli (Birkirkara).

Best forwards (three Abdelkarim Nafti (Valletta); Alex Alves (Tarxien); Alfred Effiong (Balzan); Federico Falcone (Valletta), Jhonnattann (Valletta); Jorginho (Hibs); Jorge Santos (Hibs Lydon Micallef (Balzan); Matteo Piciollo (Floriana).