Fifth edition of the Replay Gala Night launched

With the local football season over, Media.Link Communications will host the fifth edition of The Gram Collections Replay Gala Night on Wednesday June 6.

This season being the 12th edition of NET TV’s Replay, Christian and ?or? Micallef, the producers of this popular football show, gave details about this annual fixture.

Addressing a press conference in Pietà, Christian Micallef said: “Once again these awards will give us the opportunity to honour those individuals who have excelled throughout the local football season. The Replay Gala Night will celebrate personal achievement and unceasing commitment to the game.”

?or? Micallef explained in detail the judging process. Voting took place in the latter part of May. A panel of 12 football correspondents selected their top five players, coaches or referees in nine categories. Their votes were carried forward to the final adjudicating phase, where a panel of eight other leading football pundits chose the nine winners.

These awards will again feature the Best Under-17 Player of the Year Award. MFA Technical Centre coaches and Youth Nursery coaches at the helm of Under-17 teams were asked to cast their votes.

The prestigious Top Star and Young Star Player Awards were also retained. These tributes, similar to the PFA Player and Young Player of the Year Awards in England, will feature very prominently. All the players on the field in the local Premier League this season have been asked to name their top five players for the above-mentioned two awards. Last year’s new accolade, the Top Star Coach Award, will also feature again as the best coach will be voted for and chosen by the twelve Premier League coaches themselves. The Premier League Best XI will also be divulged on the night. The twelve Premier League coaches have voted for the best player in each position.

A special award involving the sporting public is still ongoing. Fans and viewers of Replay are being urged to have their final say on who they think was the BOV Premier League top player this season. Voting through text messages on 506 170 91 will close on Wednesday at noon. The winner will be announced later that night during the award ceremony.

Furthermore local clubs’ websites will be examined by a team of web-design experts and a winner for Best Club Website announced.

The full list of awards for the Replay Gala Night 2012 event is the following:

  • Best Overall Player
  • Best Local Player
  • Best Foreign Player
  • Best Coach
  • Best Goalkeeper
  • Best Defender
  • Best Midfielder
  • Best Forward
  • Best Referee
  • Premier League Best XI
  • Top Star Player Award
  • Top Star Coach Award
  • Young Star Player Award
  • Best First Division Player
  • Best Female Player
  • Best U/17 Player
  • Best Club Website
  • Lifetime Achievement Awards
  • Viewers’ Choice Award – Player of the Year

The finalists so far:

Best Goalkeeper: Henry Bonello (Sliema Wanderers)
Matthew Camilleri (Balzan Youths)
Andrew Hogg (Valletta FC)
Mario Muscat (Hibernians FC)

Best Defender: Ian Azzopardi (Valletta FC)
Steve Borg (Valletta FC)
Jonathan Caruana (Valletta FC)
Rodolfo Soares (Hibernians FC)

Best Midfielder: William Barbosa (Valletta FC)
Roderick Briffa (Valletta FC)
Clayton Failla (Hibernians FC)
Pablo Doffo (Floriana FC)

Best Striker: Denni Rocha dos Santos (Valletta FC)
Edison Luis dos Santos (Hibernians FC)
Obinna Obiefule (Mosta FC)
Jorge Pereira da Silva (Qormi FC)

Best Coach: Mark Miller (Hibernians FC)
Ivan Zammit (Balzan Youths)
Paul Zammit (B’Kara FC)
Jesmond Zerafa (Valletta FC)

Best Referee: Marco Borg
Chris Lautier
Clayton Pisani
Esther Azzopardi

Best Foreign Player: William Barbosa (Valletta FC)
Denni Rocha Dos Santos (Valletta FC)
Obinna Obiefule (Mosta FC)
Jorge Pereira da Silva (Qormi FC)

Best Maltese Player: Roderick Briffa (Valletta FC)
Jonathan Caruana (Valletta FC)
Andrew Cohen (Hibernians FC)
Clayton Failla (Hibernians FC)

Best Overall Player: William Barbosa (Valletta FC)
Jonathan Caruana (Valletta FC)
Clayton Failla (Hibernians FC)
Obinna Obiefule (Mosta FC)

Top Star Coach Award: Clive Mizzi (Mqabba FC)
Mark Miller (Hibernians FC)
Paul Zammit (B’Kara FC)
Jesmond Zerafa (Valletta FC)

Best Division I Player: Darren Falzon (Naxxar Lions)
Julian Galea (Melita FC)
Michael Martin (Melita)
Adam Smeir (Rabat Ajax)

Best Under 17 Player: Kyle Cesare (Pieta` Hotspurs)
Lywelyn Cremona (Valletta FC)
Jurgen Degabriele (Hibernians FC)
Ryan Spiteri (Hamrun FC)

Best Female Player: Rachel Cuschieri (B’Kara FC)
Stephania Farrugia (B’Kara FC)
Joselyn Gafa` (Gozo FC)
Gabriella Zahra (B’Kara FC)

Best Club Website: Birkirkara FC
Floriana FC
Mdina Knights
Valletta FC

The Gram Collections Replay Gala Night will be broadcast live on NET TV at 8.30pm. Seasoned TV personalities Charles Saliba and Louise Tedesco will once again host the evening.

The sponsors for this year’s activity are The Gram Collections, Kunsill Malti g?all-iSport, Stylish Bathroom Centre, Paparukei Caterers, Powerade, Sports Experience and Dove for Men.