The Sportivi Nazzjonali 2007 contest will have new winners in all five categories after none of the 2006 winners were among the finalists announced by the Ghaqda Kittieba Sports in Valletta yesterday.
Last month, the sportswriters association had issued its list of nominees that already omitted 2006 sportsman and sportswoman of the year, William Chetcuti and Rebecca Madyson, and U-17 award winner Matthew Asciak.
Yesterday, the same fate fell to Team Chaudron (Team of the Year) and basketball referee Bernard Vassallo (Official of the Year) who failed to make the cut for the awards night at the Westin Dragonara Hotel on January 27.
Track and Field athletes dominated the list of finalists with seven nominations. Football was also strongly represented with three nominations including that of MFA president Joe Mifsud.
For the past five years, the Sportsman of the Year award was dominated by Double Trap shooter Chetcuti. However, this year he will be succeeded by either Coventry City striker Michael Mifsud, sprinters Darren Gilford and Nikolai Portelli, tenpin bowling's Mark Spiteri or Gary Curmi, of drag racing.
Francesca Xuereb, fourth in the 400m final in the European Youth Olympic Festival last summer, is in line to complete a remarkable double when she was shortlisted in both Sportswoman of the Year and U-17 awards.
In the women's category Xuereb will be challenged by GSSE gold medallists Marcon Bezzina and Joanna Camilleri (both judo), sprinter Charlene Attard and bowling ace Sue Abela.
The John Debattista U-17 Award will be a battle between siblings as Francesca was joined by her twin sister Martina and sailing duo Sean and Benji Borg. Squash player Colette Sultana is the other finalist.
The poll, reserved only to sportswriters association members, will take place in the coming days.
Finalists
Sportsman of the Year: G. Curmi (drag racing), N. Portelli, D. Gilford (both athletics), M. Mifsud (football), M. Spiteri (bowling).
Sportswoman of the Year: S. Abela (bowling), C. Attard, F. Xuereb (both athletics), M. Bezzina, J. Camilleri (both judo).
Team of the Year: U-18 basketball team (women), football national team, rugby national team (women), snooker masters team, squash team (women).
Official of the Year: T. Camilleri (snooker), A. Chircop (athletics), A. DeBono (horse racing), M. Micallef (volleyball), J. Mifsud (football).
Under-17 award: B. Borg, S. Borg (both sailing), C. Sultana (squash), F. Xuereb, M. Xuereb (both athletics).
Minister's address
Education Minister Louis Galea, who is also responsible for sport, addressed those present at St James Cavalier yesterday.
His speech was dedicated mostly to highlight past achievements since the new Sports Law of 2003 and the Kunsill Malti ghall-Isport's (KMS) endeavour to establish its roots in Maltese society.
Dr Galea said the Sports Law brought about a 'silent revolution' in sports management. This was attributed to the KMS and its bid to promote activities through development programmes that attract greater numbers to sports participation.
The KMS went on to consolidate its position also with the opening of new offices in Gozo. Dr Galea said 2007 saw the completion of the first strategy for sports for the next three years. This was amply discussed during a seminar last month.
In 2007, the KMS added more initiatives through sports programmes and distributed over €745,000 in aids and incentives to sports organisations. Apart from that, the KMS also allocated €361,052 to the Maltese Olympic Committee. In all, the government handed KMS a total of €2,678,779 to manage sports in 2007.
"The KMS strategy for the next three years is in place and analysed thoroughly. We are experiencing a gradual change in sports culture.
"This will lead our country to attain higher levels we all crave for," Dr Galea said.
A notable reference in Dr Galea's speech for the new year was his pledge that the new sports complex in Kirkop will start operating by mid-2008.
"Works in Kirkop are moving at a fast pace. Such sports facilities are beneficial to the public," he said.
"We are seeing the numbers in participation increasing consistently and this not only in sports activities.
"All complexes are maintained regularly despite the high cost of keeping these places in ship shape."
2007 KMS assistance (in euro)
Human resources 41,928.72
Doping 20,964.36
Education 18,634.99
Equipment 53,755.59
Maintenance 249,242.95
Int. participation 27,952.48
Local int. participation 100,163.06
Subsidy on facilities 216,631.73
Youth development 16,305.61
Total e745,579.49