


Bjorn Kristensen tops vote with 74 points

The 2017 MFA Awards were held on Sunday night at the Mediterranean Conference Centre. Malta midfielder Bjorn Kristensen claimed the most coveted prize, the MFA Footballer of the Year award, to cap a memorable season in which he helped Hibernians win the BOV Premier League title.
Kristensen, 24, collected 74 points from the voting panel which comprised journalists who regularly follow the BOV Premier League, the captain, coach and a top official of the 12 top-flight clubs and coaches from the Malta FA Technical Centre, including national coach Pietro Ghedin and his assistant Ray Farrugia.
Birkirkara midfielder Gareth Sciberras, who hung up his boots at the end of the league season, finished second with 59 points ahead of Hibernians defender Andrei Agius on 30 points.
Joseph Zerafa, the Birkirkara wing-back, was fourth on 23 points while Balzan midfielder Paul Fenech finished fifth on 21 points.
Below are the points obtained by the candidates in every category.
MFA FOOTBALLER OF THE YEAR
1. Bjorn Kristensen (Hibernians) 74 points
2. Gareth Sciberras (Birkirkara) 59 points
3. Andrei Agius (Hibernians) 30 points
4. Joseph Zerafa (Birkirkara) 23 points
5. Paul Fenech (Balzan) 21 points
COACH OF THE YEAR
1. Mark Miller (Hibernians) 107 points
2. Danilo Doncic (St Andrews) 56 points
3. Oliver Spiteri (Balzan) 40 points
YOUNG PLAYER OF THE YEAR
1. Jurgen Degabriele (Hibernians) 122 points
2. Jake Grech (Ħamrun Spartans) 77 points
3. Jean Borg (Valletta) 30 points
FOREIGN PLAYER OF THE YEAR
1. Bojan Kaljevic (Balzan) 76 points
2. Jackson Lima (Hibernians) 53 points
3. Alan Da Silva Souza (Balzan) 48 points
BOV FIRST DIVISION BEST PLAYER
1. Juninho Conceicao Cabral (Senglea Athletic) 65 points
2. Yuri De Jesus Messias (Naxxar Lions) 61 points
3. Erjon Beu (Lija Athletic) 34 points
BOV SECOND DIVISION BEST PLAYER
1. Giovanni Galea (Qrend) 36 points
2. Alan Tabone (Żejtun Corinthians) 11 points
3. Tanaka Kumpei (Żejtun Corinthians) 11 points
BOV THIRD DIVISION BEST PLAYER
1. Ryan Sell (Kalkara) 38 points
2. Timothy Thomas (Kalkara) 23 points
3. Luke Galea (Dingli Swallows) 16 points
BOV WOMEN’S LEAGUE BEST PLAYER
1. Stephania Farrugia (Birkirkara) 46 points
2. Shona Zammit (Hibernians) 29 points
3. Ann Marie Said (Birkirkara) 28 points
BEST YOUTH LEAGUE PLAYER
1. Jan Busuttil (Pietà Hotspurs) 41 points
2. Kurt Shaw (Sliema Wanderers) 14 points
3. Neil Frendo (Mosta) 14 points
GFA PLAYER OF THE YEAR
1. Steve Sultana (Xewkija Tigers) 42 points
2. Ferdinando Apap (Għajnsielem) 39 points
3. Shaun Attard (Nadur Youngsters) 38 points
FUTSAL PLAYER OF THE YEAR
1. Jovica Milijic (Valletta) 31 points
2. Carl Azzopardi (Luxol) 8 points
3. Andrea Farrugia (University of Malta) 7 points
GOAL OF THE YEAR
1. Ryan Scicluna (Birkirkara) 379 votes
2. Jake Grech (Ħamrun Spartans) 157 votes
3. Gilmar Ribeiro (Hibernians) 52 votes
