Malta Football Players Association

Montebello and Grosso win top honours at MFPA Awards 2024

Former Malta captain Carmel Busuttil receives Assikura Merit Award

6th May 2024

Montebello and Grosso win top honours at MFPA Awards 2024

Ħamrun Spartans and Malta forward Luke Montebello and Marta Grosso, who plays for Women’s League champions Birkirkara, hogged the limelight at the MFPA Awards after securing the two most coveted prizes - the MFPA Men’s and Women’s Best Player respectively.

The performances and feats of the most outstanding players in the senior football competitions during the 2023-24 season came under the spotlight at the MFPA’s annual event, held on Sunday at the Radisson Golden Sands Hotel.

Winning the MFPA Men’s Best Player Award for the first time, Montebello, 28, has crowned arguably the best season of his senior career so far after firing Ħamrun Spartans to their 10th national title, topping the best scorers’ chart with 21 goals.

Montebello garnered the highest number of votes from his peers ahead of Floriana striker Kemar Reid and Sliema Wanderers midfielder Geoffrey Acheampong.

In the female category, Grosso, 22, played a leading role in Birkirkara’s march towards their 12th league title in another memorable season for the Stripes who also won the Super Cup and Knock-Out. The Italian midfielder was Birkirkara’s leading scorer in the championship with 17 goals.

The other finalists for the MFPA Women’s Best Player Award were Stephania Farrugia, the Birkirkara defender, and Swieqi United goalkeeper Patricia Araujo Da Silva.

Carlo Zammit Lonardelli was rewarded for his brilliant season with Floriana as he was voted MFPA Men’s Best Young Player while Nicole Sciberras, the Hibernians and Malta midfielder, captured the MFPA Women’s Best Young Player award.

A total of 35 awards were given out during the MFPA Awards 2024 with 22 presented to the players earning a berth in the MFPA Best XI for both men and women.

Champions Ħamrun Spartans claimed four spots in the 2023-24 MFPA Men’s Best XI as Montebello was joined by Emerson Marcelina (centre-back), Ryan Camenzuli (left-back) and Roko Prsa (midfielder). Floriana had three nominees in the final XI – Oualid El Hasni (centre-back), Zammit Lonardelli (right-back) and Reid (forward) while their Italian mentor, Mauro Camoranesi, was named best coach.

The other players in the 2023-24 MFPA Best XI 4-3-3 formation were Sliema Wanderers duo Rashed Al-Tumi (goalkeeper) and Acheampong (midfielder), Marsaxlokk’s Yuri Messias (midfielder) and Naxxar Lions’ Pablo De Carvalho (forward).

In the MFPA Women’s Best XI, champions Birkirkara were represented by six players – Stephania Farrugia (centre-back), Ann-Marie Said (left-back), Valentina Rapa (right-back), Grosso (midfielder), and Alishia Sultana and Arianna Del Moral (forwards).

The other players in the best selection are goalkeeper Araujo Da Silva, of Swieqi United, Hibernians pair Natalee Grace Geren (centre-back) and Sciberras (midfielder), Mġarr United’s Brenda Borg (midfielder) and Swieqi United’s Salamatu Abdulai who completed the forward line.

CHALLENGE LEAGUE HONOURS

The Challenge League honours were shared as Melita, the winners of the second-tier championship, provided two winners, Matthew Debattista (midfielder) and Andre Penha Da Costa (forward) while Matthew Grech (goalkeeper) and Rodolfo Soares (defender) clinched the other two awards after helping Żabbar St Patrick gain promotion to the Premier League. Melita’s Debattista secured the MFPA Challenge League Best Overall Player award.

The MFPA Best Amateur League Player award went to Mtarfa’s Kurt Borg who excelled during his team’s successful promotion campaign.

FIFA referee Trustin Farrugia Cann made it six in a row after being voted best referee of the season.

CARMEL BUSUTTIL RECEIVES MERIT AWARD

The recipient of this year’s MFPA Assikura Merit Award was Carmel Busuttil. Regarded as one of the all-time greats of Maltese football, Busuttil, who came through the youth ranks of his home club Rabat Ajax, made 113 appearances and scored 23 goals for Malta during his illustrious career. At club level, he also played for KRC Genk in Belgium, Verbania in Italy and Sliema Wanderers where he concluded his playing career.

Busuttil received the award from Carlo Mamo, General Secretary of the MFPA.

10 YEARS OF FIFPRO MEMBERSHIP

During the Awards Night, the MFPA celebrated 10 years of membership within FIFPRO. David Terrier, President of FIFPRO Division Europe, paid tribute to the achievements of the MFPA which, over the years, has upped its commitment to offer more support to its member players while also becoming an active contributor within FIFPRO.

A series of short features helped to shed light on the MFPA’s progress and greatest achievements over the past decade, including the abolition of transfer fees for out-of-contract players in 2020, the ongoing legal assistance, education and wellbeing programmes, and a multitude of other initiatives.

The MFPA Awards 2024 were presented by Keith Demicoli and Claire Agius Ordway.

MFPA AWARDS 2024 – THE WINNERS

MFPA Men’s Best Player: Luke Montebello (Ħamrun Spartans)

MFPA Women’s Best Player: Marta Grosso (Birkirkara)

MFPA Men’s Best Young Player: Carlo Zammit Lonardelli (Floriana)

MFPA Women’s Best Young Player: Nicole Sciberras (Hibernians)

MFPA MEN’S BEST XI (4-3-3)

Goalkeeper: Rashed Al-Tumi (Sliema Wanderers)

Centre-backs: Oualid El Hasni (Floriana); Emerson Marcelina (Ħamrun Spartans)

Right-back: Carlo Zammit Lonardelli (Floriana)

Left-back: Ryan Camenzuli (Ħamrun Spartans)

Midfielders: Geoffrey Acheampong (Sliema Wanderers); Roko Prsa (Ħamrun Spartans); Yuri De Jesus Messias (Marsaxlokk)

Forwards: Pablo De Carvalho (Naxxar Lions); Luke Montebello (Ħamrun Spartans); Kemar Reid (Floriana)

MFPA Best Coach: Mauro Camoranesi (Floriana)

MFPA WOMEN’S BEST XI (4-3-3)

Goalkeeper: Patricia Araujo Da Silva (Swieqi United)

Centre-backs: Stephania Farrugia (Birkirkara); Natalee Grace Geren (Hibernians)

Right-back: Valentina Rapa (Birkirkara)

Left-back: Ann-Marie Said (Birkirkara)

Midfielders: Brenda Borg (Mġarr United); Marta Grosso (Birkirkara); Nicole Sciberras (Hibernians)

Forwards: Salamatu Abdulai (Swieqi United); Arianna Del Moral (Birkirkara); Alishia Sultana (Birkirkara)

MFPA Best Challenge League Player: Matthew Debattista (Melita)

MFPA Best Challenge League Goalkeeper: Matthew Grech (Żabbar St Patrick)

MFPA Best Challenge League Defender: Rodolfo Soares (Żabbar St Patrick)

MFPA Best Challenge League Midfielder: Matthew Debattista (Melita)

MFPA Best Challenge League Forward: Andre Penha Da Costa (Melita)

MFPA Best Amateur League Player: Kurt Borg (Mtarfa)

MFPA Best Referee: Trustin Farrugia Cann

MFPA Assikura Merit Award: Carmel Busuttil

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MFPA Awards 2024 – Montebello u Grosso jirbħu l-unuri ewlenin

L-eks captain tat-tim nazzjonali Carmel Busuttil onorat bl-Assikura Merit Award

Luke Montebello, l-attakkant ta’ Ħamrun Spartans u t-tim nazzjonali Malti, u Marta Grosso, li tilgħab maċ-champions tal-futbol tan-nisa Birkirkara, kienu fiċ-ċentru tal-attenzjoni wara li rebħu l-iktar żewġ unuri prestiġġjużi waqt l-MFPA Awards 2024 – l-MFPA Best Player fil-kategoriji tal-irġiel u n-nisa rispettivament.

L-avveniment annwali tal-Malta Football Players Association, li sar fil-lukanda Radisson Golden Sands, iffuka fuq il-prestazzjonijiet u l-kisbiet tal-plejers li spikkaw l-aktar matul l-istaġun 2023-24.

Għal Montebello, li għandu 28 sena, din kienet l-ewwel darba li niżżel ismu fil-lista tal-aqwa plejers tal-ogħla kampjonat domestiku bħala rebbieħ tal-unur MFPA Best Men’s Player. Dan is-suċċess inkuruna staġun mill-aqwa għal Montebello li kellu rwol importanti fil-mixja ta’ Ħamrun Spartans lejn ir-rebħ tal-għaxar kampjonat fl-istorja tal-klabb, tragward li hu wkoll rifless fit-total ta’ 21 gowl li Montebello skurja fil-kampjonat Premier biex spiċċa fil-quċċata tal-klassifika tal-aqwa skorers.

Montebello kiseb l-akbar ammont ta’ voti mill-plejers li jilagħbu fil-Premier b’Kemar Reid, ta’ Floriana, u Geoffrey Acheampong, ta’ Sliema Wanderers, il-finalisti l-oħra.

Fil-kategorija tan-nisa, Marta Grosso, li għandha 22 sena, ukoll kellha sehem kruċjali fir-rebħ tat-12-il kampjonat għal Birkirkara fi staġun ieħor memorabbli li ra lill-Istripes jirbħu wkoll in-Knock-Out u s-Super Cup. Il-midfielder Taljana kienet ukoll l-aqwa skorer għat-tim tagħha b’total ta’ 17-il gowl.

Il-finalisti l-oħra għall-unur tal-MFPA Women’s Best Player kienu Stephania Farrugia, id-difensur ta’ Birkirkara, u Patricia Araujo Da Silva, goalkeeper ta’ Swieqi United.

L-unur tal-MFPA Men’s Best Young Player ingħata lil Carlo Zammit Lonardelli li kellu staġun mill-aqwa ma’ Floriana filwaqt li Nicole Sciberras, midfielder ta’ Hibernians u t-tim nazzjonali tan-nisa, rebħet il-premju MFPA Women’s Best Young Player.

B’kollox kienu ppreżentati 35 premju waqt is-serata tal-MFPA Awards 2024, fosthom 22 li ngħataw lill-plejers li kisbu post fl-MFPA Best XI tal-irġiel u anke tan-nisa. Ic-champions Ħamrun Spartans kellhom erba’ plejers fost l-aqwa 11 tal-istaġun b’Emerson Marcelina (difensur ċentral), Ryan Camenzuli (left-back) u Roko Prsa (midfielder) jingħaqdu ma’ Montebello.

Floriana kellhom tliet nominati f’dak li jista’ jissejjaħ bħala t-tim tas-sena – Oualid El Hasni (difensur ċentrali), Zammit Lonardelli (right-back) u Reid (attakkant) filwaqt li l-coach Mauro Camoranesi kien ivvutat bħala l-aqwa coach tal-istaġun.

Il-plejers l-oħra fl-MFPA Best XI, f’formazzjoni ta’ 4-3-3, kienu l-plejers ta’ Sliema Wanderers Rashed Al-Tumi (goalkeeper) u Geoffrey Acheampong (midfielder), Yuri, il-midfielder ta’ Marsaxlokk, u Pablo De Carvalho, attakkant ta’ Naxxar Lions.

Fl-MFPA Best XI għall-kampjonat tan-nisa, ic-champions Birkirkara kellhom sitt plejers nominati – Stephania Farrugia (difensur ċentrali), Ann-Marie Said (left-back), Valentina Rapa (right-back), Grosso (midfielder) flimkien mal-attakkanti Alishia Sultana u Arianna Del Moral.

Il-plejers l-oħra fis-selezzjoni tas-sena kienu l-goalkeeper ta’ Swieqi Da Silva, il-plejers ta’ Hibernians Natalee Grace Geren (difensur ċentrali) u Sciberras (midfielder), il-midfielder ta’ Mġarr United Brenda Borg u Salamatu Abdulai, ta’ Swieqi United, li tiffurma parti mill-attakk.

CHALLENGE LEAGUE

L-unuri marbuta maċ-Challenge League ntrebħu minn plejers ta’ Melita, ir-rebbieħa ta’ dan il-kampjonat, u Żabbar St Patrick li wkoll kienu promossi għall-Premier League. Il-plejers ta’ Melita Matthew Debattista u Andre Penha Da Costa rebħu l-MFPA Best Challenge League Midfielder u Best Forward rispettivament filwaqt li Żabbar St Patrick kellhom lil Matthew Grech (goalkeeper) u Rodolfo Soares (difensur) li ġew ivvutati bħala l-aqwa plejers fiż-żewġ kategoriji l-oħra.

Debattista rebaħ ukoll l-unur tal-MFPA Challenge League Best Overall player filwaqt li Kurt Borg, ta’ Mtarfa li wkoll ġew promossi, kien nominat bħala l-MFPA Best Amateur League Player.

Ir-referee tal-FIFA Trustin Farrugia Cann rebaħ l-unur tal-MFPA Best Referee għas-sitt sena konsekuttiva.

CARMEL BUSUTTIL IPPREŻENTAT BIL-MERIT AWARD

Ir-rebbieħ tal-MFPA Assikura Merit Award għal din is-sena hu Carmel Busuttil. Meqjus bħala wieħed mill-aqwa plejers Maltin ta’ kull żmien, Busuttil, li beda jilgħab ma’ Rabat Ajax, lagħab 113-il darba u skurja 23 gowl għat-tim nazzjonali Malti matul karriera brillanti. Hu lagħab ukoll ma’ KRC Genk fil-Belġju, Verbania fl-Italja u temm il-karriera ma’ Sliema Wanderers.

Carlo Mamo, is-Segretarju Generali tal-MFPA, ippreżenta l-premju lil Busuttil.

10 SNIN MEMBRI TAL-FIFPRO

Matul l-Awards, l-MFPA fakkret 10 snin bħala membru sħiħ tal-FIFPRO. David Terrier, President tal-FIFPRO Division Europe, kellu kliem ta’ tifħir għall-kisbiet li għamlet l-MFPA li, matul is-snin, intensifikat l-impenn tagħha biex toffri iktar appoġġ lill-plejers membri u kkonsolidat il-kontribut tagħha fi ħdan il-FIFPRO.

Waqt is-serata, ntwerew serje ta’ features li xeħtu dawl fuq il-progress u s-suċċessi tal-MFPA matul l-aħħar 10 snin, fosthom it-tneħħija ta’ kumpens għall-plejers li jkunu waslu fit-tmiem tal-kuntratt tagħhom, l-assistenza legali kontinwa li tingħata lill-plejers dwar diversi materji u diffikultajiet li jiltaqgħu magħhom, programmi ta’ edukazzjoni u saħħa, u diversi inizjattivi oħra.

Is-serata tal-MFPA Awards 2024 kienet ippreżentata minn Keith Demicoli u Claire Agius Ordway.

MFPA AWARDS 2024 – IR-REBBIEĦA