Awards to be presented after AGM on July 29

The Footballer of the Year award and the awards for the Best Players for the various leagues, Top Scorers and Fair Play will be presented on July 29 – after the Annual General Meeting of the Malta Football Association which will be held at the Dolmen Resort Hotel, Qawra. This was revealed during the meeting of the Council which was held on Tuesday.

The draws for the National Leagues – the Premier League, the Challenge League and the National Amateur League – could also be held on the day.

Meanwhile among the items to emerge from the Council was the organisation of a number of free first aid courses since as from next season, clubs need to have at list one first-aider on the team sheet. The first-aider could be an official, a member of the technical staff or a player.

The courses, available in both Maltese and English, are being held at the Trophies Lounge and Malta Red Cross headquarters in Pembroke. A total of nine courses are planned, each comprising three sessions held during the same week. 

Details were also provided regarding the medical screening for national team players and technical staff as the teams resumed preparation ahead of their commitments starting in September. Both the senior side led by Devis Mangia and the Under-21 side led by Silvio Vella started their preparation on July.

Medical screening of players not only included testing for the COVID-19 but also cardio-vascular tests.

Meanwhile the association confirmed the application for citizenship on sporting merit for Enrico Pepe, Amadou Samb and Mario Fontanella. The players, whose application is being processed, have joined the squad for this pre-season training camp.

The association is still on the look-out for players of Maltese origins, based abroad, who could turn out for the Malta national team.