Malta international defender Steve Borg, who played for Valletta last season, was voted MFPA Best Player in the MFPA Awards 2020. Borg, who also won the award last season, beat the challenge of Floriana duo Diego Venancio and Kristian Keqi as he obtained 21% of the votes ahead of Venancio’s 14% and Keqi’s 11%.

This year saw MFPA take its annual awards ceremony to a virtual format. Broadcast on Wednesday 16th of September, Keith Demicoli hosted an unusual but equally exciting event. In all, twenty-seven awards were given.

In the Best XI, there were three players each from champions Floriana (Ryan Camenzuli, Diego Venancio and Kristian Keqi), Valletta (Henry Bonello, Steve Borg and Mario Fontanella) and Birkirkara (Enrico Pepe, Matthew Guillaumier and Caio Prado) with Joseph Mbong of Hibernians and Jackson Mendoza of Santa Lucia, the other two players to make it to the top eleven.

Joseph Mbong was also voted Best Young Defender while Matthew Guillaumier walked away with three awards as he was also voted Best Young Midfielder and Best Young Player overall. Santa Lucia’s Timothy Aquilina won the Best Young Goalkeeper award and Aidan Friggieri of Gudja the Best Young Forward award.

Floriana coach Vincenzo Potenza claimed the Best Coach award while the award for Best Referee went to Trustin Farrugia Cann.

In women’s football, Loza Abera (Birkirkara) won the award for Best Female Player and Haley Bugeja (Mgarr) Best Young Female Player.

Erjon Beu (Lija) was voted Best First Division Player and Luxol’s Celino Alves Best Futsal Player.

For the first time, two special awards were given, one to nurse Charlot Lanzon and photographer Walter Sargent for saving the life of Yau Mun Law, and another was given to Dorianne Theuma, for being the first and only woman to have played one hundred games with the Maltese national team.

The Merit Award went to Pierre Brincat for his invaluable contribution to women’s football in Malta.

During the ceremony, MFPA’s General Secretary Carlo Mamo was joined by a number of players to express joy for the abolishment of Parameters in Malta. In his statement, Mamo claimed “From the very beginning, MFPA’s vision was clear. We had a desire to leave future generations of players a legacy of football full of opportunity, not obstacles. This victory fills us with hope because it is a very important step towards this goal.”