The Malta Football Players Association organised for the second consecutive year, the MFPA Awards event attended by the Premier League clubs’ captains and vice-captains, and also by the National team players.

This year, apart from the Best Player Award, the MFPA introduced awards for the runner-up and the second runner-up.

An innovative voting system has been introduced as from this year and it turned out to be a success. The MFPA executive committee agreed on a short list of 21 players who excelled during the past season, a mixture of Maltese and foreigners from the Premier League. Then the National Team players, captains and vice captains of the local Premier Division teams, had the opportunity to choose their preferred players online. Each player was allowed to vote only once and could note vote for players from his club.

It turned out to be a very close contest, but the winner for the MFPA Best Player Award 2012/2013 is Edward Herrera, edging his team mate Paul Fenech by just one vote. A close third was the Birkirkara skipper, Gareth Sciberras.

Notary Malcolm Licari supervised the voting and counting process.

This award is special for every player since the winner is chosen by peers. The best players in the opinion of fellow players.

Edward Herrera’s first comments were “I truly appreciate that my efforts have been rewarded and I want to, with the help of my colleagues, keep this level and continue to play to the best of my ability, both for my club and my country. This is a special award for me as a player since it reflects the choice of players, mainly my opponents.”

Next year, the MFPA shall introduce another two awards, MFPA Best Young Player and the MFPA Best XI.