Birkirkara attacking midfielder Alex Satariano and Shona Zammit, of Swieqi United, won the two most prestigious honours at the Malta FA Awards after being named as the Player of the Year award in their respective categories.

Satariano and Zammit were honoured during a gala night organised by the local governing body of football, during which the top performers of the 2024-25 season were rewarded for their efforts during the campaign.

For Alex Satariano, this is the first time in his career that he has been named the MFA Player of the Year and caps a memorable campaign which has also seen him recognised as the Top Player of the Malta Football Players Association.

Satariano is coming from a very impressive season with Birkirkara, where he played an influential role in helping the team finish second in the 360 Sports Malta Premier and also reach the final of the FA Trophy.

Added to that, the talented midfielder has established himself as a regular member of the national team and is set to play a key role in next month’s matches against Lithuania and the Netherlands.

On her part, Shona Zammit is coming from an historic campaign for her club Swieqi United.

The 28-year-old midfielder has inspired Swieqi United to their first-ever league title success as well as lifting the Super Cup.

Zammit becomes the third Swieqi United player to win the Player of the Year award, following in the footsteps of Dorianne Theuma and Jade Flask.

Zammit, who was also on the books of Hibernians, Kirkop United, and Mosta and had a spell with Pink Bari in the Italian Serie A, has amassed over 80 caps for the women’s national team, scoring seven goals, including the winner against Andorra in this year’s Nations League.

Ħamrun Spartans defender Sven Xerri won the young player of the year award while Birkirkara striker Maxuell Maia was named as the Best Foreign Player.

Darren Abdilla, of Floriana was handed the Coach of the Year award.

President’s award

During the night, former Valletta defender Joe Cini received the President’s award while Ħamrun Ħanin, the social arm of Ħamrun Spartans, received the Football Social Responsibility Award for all their work in the community.

A novelty in this year’s awards was the selection of the Best XI of All Time where several legends of Maltese football were included.

The All-Time Best XI that were selected at the MFA awards. Photo: Domenic Aquilina

The winners

Assikura Best Youth League Player (Women): Maia Gauci (Birkirkara).

Best Youth League Player (Men):  Zak Barbara (Valletta).

BOV Young Player of the Year Award: Sven Xerri (Ħamrun Spartans).

Izibet National Amateur League 1 Best Player: Julian Azzopardi (Birżebbuġa SP).

Izibet National Amateur League 2 Best Player: Ferdinando Apap (Victoria Hotspurs).

Fair Play Award: Rabat Ajax.

The Gozitan Achievement Award:  Maria Farrugia (Sheffield United).

Foreign Player of the Year Award:  Maxuell Maia (Birkir-kara).

Special 125th Anniversary Award Best XI of All Time:

Goalkeeper – David Cluett.

Right Back – David Carabott.

Left Back – Lolly Debattista.

Centre Backs – John Holland and John Buttigieg.

Holding Midfielder – Joe Brincat.

Central Midfielder – Raymond Vella.

Right Winger – Gilbert Agius.

Left Winger – Michael Degiorgio.

Forwards – Carmel Busuttil and Michael Mifsud.

The President’s Award: Joe Cini.

The Football Social Responsibility Award: Ħamrun Ħanin, Ħamrun Spartans FC.

Top Scorers

360 Sports Malta Premier: Maxuell Maia (Birkirkara) 22 goals.

BOV Challenge League: Sulahmana Mamadu Bah (Żurrieq) 20 goals.

Izibet National Amateur League 1: Joshua Ojelabi (Marsaskala) 20 goals.

Izibet National Amateur League 2: Timothy Thomas (Kalkara United) 17 goals.

Assikura Women’s League: Hailey Russell (San Ġwann) 27 goals.

BOV Challenge League Best Player: Brandon Paiber (Valletta).

Coach of the Year: Darren Abdilla (Floriana).

MFA Hall of Fame: Antonio P. Briguglio.

Best Goal of the Year: Carlo Zammit Lonardelli – 43rd minute, Floriana vs Gżira United (2-1), September 27, 2024 .

Footballer of the Year (Women):  Shona Zammit (Swieqi United).

Footballer of the Year (Men):  Alexander Satariano (Birkirkara).