2007 was a significant year for local sport as it marked the 50th anniversary of Malta's first official international football match against Austria which was played on February 24, 1957.

The organising committee of the Sportivi Nazzjonali, held annually by the Ghaqda Kittieba Sport (GhKS), has just announced that the winners of this year's awards will receive their trophies from personalities who are in some way linked to that historic match.

The award presenters will be Stanley Clews, who was the sports editor of The Times at the time, Wilfred Asciak, a two-time Sportsman of the Year winner in 1966 and 1971 who reported Malta's landmark match against Austria for Il-Berqa, and Frank Attard, who took photos of the game at the old Gzira stadium for The Times.

The Maltese team will be represented by Tony Cauchi, who scored Malta's first goal in that 3-2 defeat to Austria, and Joe Cini who went on to feature in three other matches against Austria.

At Sunday's presentation ceremony, to be staged at the Westin Hotel, the Young Athlete of the Year nominee will become the 10th winner of the John Debattsita Trophy, named after the association's former treasurer who passed away in 1997.

Fittingly, in view of her long involvement with the Paralympic Association, Anna Calleja, herself a two-time Sportswoman of the Year winner, will present the awards to disabled athletes who distinguished themselves in sport last year.

Meanwhile, voting by members of the GhKS began a few days ago and will come to a close tomorrow.

The counting of votes is to take place a few hours before the presentation ceremony.