Michael Mifsud and Francesca Xuereb were named yesterday as the top sports personalities of 2007 following a vote conducted by the Ghaqda Kittieba Sports for the annual Sportivi Nazzjonali contest.
With Double Trap ace William Chetcuti, winner of the previous five Sportsman of the Year awards, failing to make the cut this time round, the award for men was up for grabs.
However, there was no doubt where the honour was heading as national team striker Mifsud polled 377 votes in first place, a full 113 points ahead of runner-up Darren Gilford, of athletics, and drag racing competitor Gary Curmi who placed third with 196 points.
The other two finalists in the men's list were Mark Spiteri (bowling) and Nikolai Portelli (athletics).
Mifsud, who scored Coventry City's winner in the FA Cup fourth round 2-1 victory over Millwall on Saturday, led a memorable night for football in the journalists' vote at the Westin Dragonara.
In fact, Dusan Fitzel's men were named Team of the Year and Malta FA president Joe Mifsud outpointed Anthony Chircop (athletics) and Anthony DeBono (Malta Racing Club) for the Official of the Year award.
In 2007, the national football team chalked up some impressive results in the Euro 2008 qualifying campaign as Dr Mifsud was re-elected in the UEFA Executive Committee.
Last summer, he also won a crucial vote during an annual general meeting to retain his seat at the Malta FA's top post. Yesterday, he was at the Westin to collect his award along with national coach Fitzel and national team captain Gilbert Agius.
The vote was also one to remember for Xuereb. Besides succeeding Trap shooter Rebecca Madyson as 2007 Sportswoman of the Year, the middle distance runner also won the vote for the most promising U-17 athlete, finishing ahead of sailor Benji Borg and her twin sister Martina who was third.
Xuereb, a GSSE silver medallist and record holder for 400m, polled 291 votes in the Sportswoman of the Year category to finish a mere seven points ahead of second-placed Marcon Bezzina, the GSSE gold medallist. Charlene Attard, also of athletics, was third with 261 points.
In 2007, Xuereb made history as she qualified for the finals of a major competition and finished fourth in the World Youth Championships.
Among those distributing the awards yesterday were former journalists Stanley Clews and Wilfred Asciak, veteran photographer Frank Attard and ex-national team player Tony Cauchi. They were all related in some way to Malta's first international friendly against Austria way back in 1957.
Anna Calleja, a former Sportswoman of the Year, presented awards to disabled athletes who distinguished themselves in sport last year.
These were: Sylvana Cassar, Chris Gregory and Alexia Wetz (all swimming), and Nathalie Galea and Brian Muscat (both gymnastics).
Meanwhile, journalist Mario Meli was honoured for his services to local sport by the sportswriters association.
The association also acknowledged the European Athletics Association conference in Malta, organised by Athletics Malta, as the best international event held on our shores in 2007.
A special memento was also given to Nestor Jacono, the sprinter who represented the country in the 1948 Olympic Games in London.
The Journalists' vote
Sportsman of the Year: 1. M. Mifsud (football) 377; 2. D. Gilford (athletics) 264; 3. G. Curmi (drag racing) 196; 4. M. Spiteri (bowling) 171; 5. N. Portelli (athletics) 153.
Sportswoman of the Year: 1. F. Xuereb (athletics) 291; 2. M. Bezzina (judo) 284; 3. C. Attard (athletics) 261; 4. S. Abela (bowling) 163; 5. J. Camilleri (judo) 152.
Team of the Year: 1. Football 285; 2. Women's rugby 259; 3. U-18 women's basketball 241; 4. Snooker 212; 5. Women's squash 187.
Official of the Year: 1. J. Mifsud (football) 273; 2. A. Chircop (athletics) 261; 3. A. DeBono (horse racing) 261; 4. T. Camilleri (snooker) 223; 5. M. Micallef (volleyball) 142.
U-17: 1. F. Xuereb (athletics) 322; 2. B. Borg (sailing) 298; 3. M. Xuereb (athletics) 229; 4. S. Borg (sailing) 202; 5. C. Sultana (squash) 137.