Sliema Wanderers midfielder Stefan Giglio is Malta's Footballer of the Year for season 2003-2004. The announcement was made at a Malta FA council meeting held at the Centenary Hall yesterday.
Giglio, 25, had emerged as favourite to land the most coveted individual title in domestic football after topping a shortlist of five candidates at the end of a voting session by members of the award's committee earlier this month.
On that occasion, the former Valletta stalwart gathered 61 points, five more than Pietà goalkeeper Saviour Darmanin. Jeffrey Chetcuti and Ivan Woods, of Sliema and Pietà respectively, were joint-third with 42 points with Noel Turner, Sliema skipper and last year's MFA Player of the Year, fifth on 39.
The outcome of that first ballot was not definitive as the final positions were to be worked out via a complex formula which takes into consideration the contenders' disciplinary record, international matches and any success in the award contests organised by the MFA on a monthly basis.
As a result, Darmanin, who enjoyed a positive season with the Hotspurs, became a strong contender for the award as he had less yellow cards than Giglio but the balance in what sources have described as a very tight race, swung the latter's way thanks to his double nomination as MIA Player of the Month during the course of the season.
"I had a very good season in my first year with Sliema," Giglio told The Times. "I am very delighted to win this award but this success would not have been possible without the invaluable contribution of my team-mates. I owe this award to them."
Sliema's second championship triumph on the trot and their first league and KO double in 39 years inevitably boosted Giglio's chances of being voted Malta's top footballer. His coronation means that Sliema have provided the two award winners for the past two years after Turner's success last season.
In Giglio's case, this is the second time he has been in the running... four years ago, he was second to former Sliema goalkeeper Ernest Barry but this time he prevailed over Darmanin, another shot-stopper.
Giglio established himself as a mainstay in the Sliema team after he joined them from Bulgarian club CSKA Sofia last summer. His fairytale return to Maltese football has not diminished his ambition of pursuing his career abroad.
"I am only 25 and I still have high hopes of joining a club overseas," Giglio remarked.
"This award completes my collection of domestic honours at club level but I will not sleep on my laurels. My determination to improve myself as a player and to bolster my chances of another spell abroad are good-enough reasons to keep me motivated. That said, I am very happy with Sliema and looking forward to helping the club emulate the success achieved in the Champions League last season."
Last year, Sliema advanced into the second qualifying round of Europe's top club competition at the expense of Skonto Riga, the Latvian champions.
Award winners
MFA Player of the Year: 1. S. Giglio (Sliema W.) 46.02; 2. S. Darmanin (Pietà H.) 44.79; 3. J. Chetcuti (Sliema) 38.29; N. Turner (Sliema) 36.49; 5. I. Woods (Pietà) 36.42.
Division One: Antonio Saliba (San Gwann).
Division Two: John Camilleri (Gozo).
Division Three: Neville Farrugia (Birzebbuga).
Youth League: Paolo Ciantar (Rabat A.).
Women's League: Maria Azzopardi (Melita).
Futsal League: Joseph Xuereb (Hibs).