Spectacular strikes vying for 2016/17 best goal prize

The sporting public has a tough task voting for the best goal of the 2016/17 season as 10 spectacular strikes have been shortlisted for the prize at the 2017 MFA Awards. The voting panel viewed over 50 goals before drawing up the 10-goal chart which will be eventually whittled down to five before the MFA Awards nights this Sunday, May 14, at the Mediterranean Conference Centre. Each entry on the best goal shortlist has an SMS number linked to it for televoting purposes.The 10 candidates for the best goal award were announced by Matthew Paris, the Malta FA Vice-President, at a news conference held earlier on Monday.Going through the 10-goal shortlist, one can’t help but admire the beauty of the shortlisted goals.Jake Grech’s perfectly-flighted drive in Ħamrun Spartans’ opening-day 3-1 win over newly-crowned champions Hibernians, Federico Falcone’s acrobatic strike in Valletta’s 5-1 victory over Pembroke Athleta and Uchenna Calistus’ solo goal in the Citizens’ 2-2 first-round draw against Balzan are the first three nominees.St Andrews’ wing-back Enmy Manuel Pena Beltre is the only player with two nominations for the best goal award.Beltre’s wonder goal following a surging run from just inside his own box in the 3-0 first-round win over Sliema Wanderers was an obvious candidate for the best goal award.Beltre has also been nominated for his strike in the 1-1 draw against Tarxien Rainbows on matchday 14 – the Dominican Republic-born player made a typical diagonal run from the left flank before hitting a curling shot that soared into the far corner.Mario Fontanella’s brilliant first-time volley in Floriana’s 2-0 first-round win over Valletta is also in the running along with Birkirkara midfielder’s Ryan Scicluna long-range dipper in the 7-1 win over Gżira United and Michael Mifsud’s sizzling volley in Valletta’s 1-0 victory over Tarxien Rainbows, also in the first round.Alex Nilsson’s thumping strike in the 2-0 win over Valletta in the penultimate round of the BOV Premier League and Gilmar Ribeiro’s powerful incursion and thunderous shot in Hibernians’ 6-1 victory over Tarxien Rainbows on the final day of the season complete the shortlist.Meanwhile, the nominees in the remaining two categories of the MFA Awards, the GFA player of the year and Futsal player of the year, have also been announced.Ferdinando Apap (Għajnsielem), Shaun Attard (Nadur Youngsters) and Steve Sultana (Xewkija Tigers) are the three finalists for the GFA best player accolade.Karl Azzopardi (Luxol), Andrea Farrugia (University of Malta) and Jovica Milijic (Valletta) are vying for the futsal award.Also during the news conference, Dr Paris, the Malta FA Vice-President who is co-ordinating this year’s MFA Awards, unveiled the trophy that will be handed to the winners of every category.The trophy, made entirely of glass, has been manufactured by Mdina Glass.  2016/17 BEST GOAL AWARD – NOMINEESMD1SCORERTELEVOTING NOĦAMRUN-HIBSJAKE GRECH50615501MD3  VALLETTA-PEMBROKEFEDERICO FALCONE50615502MD4  VALLETTA-BALZANUCHENNA CALISTUS50615503MD5  ST ANDREWS-SLIEMAE.M. PENA BELTRE50615504FLORIANA-VALLETTAMARIO FONTANELLA50615505MD9   BIRKIRKARA-GŻIRARYAN SCICLUNA50615506VALLETTA-TARXIENMICHAEL MIFSUD50615507MD14  ST ANDREWS-TARXIENE.M. PENA BELTRE50615508MD32  TARXIEN-VALLETTAALEX NILSSON50615509MD33  TARXIEN-HIBERNIANSGILMAR RIBEIRO50615510