Alexander Satariano, Shona Zammit win Best Player awards in MFPA Awards 2025

It was a case of triple delight for Alexander Satariano at the MFPA Awards 2025 as the versatile Birkirkara FC and Malta midfielder became the first player to win the MFPA Men’s Best Player and Best Young Player honours in addition to his nomination in the MFPA Men’s Best XI for the outgoing season.

In the female categories, Shona Zammit captured the top prize after securing her second MFPA Women’s Best Player award, capping a memorable season in which the talented midfielder helped Swieqi United win their maiden women’s league title. Zammit, 28, was also named in the MFPA Women’s Best XI.

The performances and achievements of the stand-out players in the senior football competitions during 2024-25 came into focus at the MFPA’s annual event, held on Monday, 12th May, at the Radisson Blu Golden Sands Resort.

Winning the MFPA Men’s Best Player and Young Player awards for the first time in his career, Satariano, 23, has been recognised by his peers after arguably the best season of his senior career so far. The Birkirkara FC captain helped his team reach the final of the Premier League, held last Saturday, and the semi-finals of the FA Trophy, being played this Wednesday.

Satariano collected the highest number of votes with the other two finalists being Birkirkara team-mate Maxuell Maia and goalkeeper Henry Bonello who plays for champions Ħamrun Spartans.

Photos courtesy of domenic aquilina/MFPA

In the women’s category, Zammit was named best player of the season, staving off competition from San Ġwann striker Hailey Russell and Valeria Villegas Caly, the Mġarr United forward.

Nicole Sciberras, the Hibernians and Malta midfielder, retained the MFPA Women’s Best Young Player award, joining Satariano as winners of the best young player honours.

A total of 36 awards were given out during the MFPA Awards 2025 with 22 presented to the players who were selected in the MFPA Best XI for both men and women.

Floriana are the most represented team with three players selected in the 2024-25 MFPA Men’s Best XI followed by Birkirkara and Marsaxlokk with two nominees each.

In the MFPA Women’s Best XI, newly-crowned women’s champions Swieqi United have four nominees followed by Knock-Out winners Mġarr United with three.

CHALLENGE LEAGUE HONOURS

The Challenge League honours were shared as Valletta, the winners of the second-tier championship, provided two winners, Timothy Aquilina (goalkeeper) and Brandon Paiber (midfielder) while Żurrieq players Darren Borg (defender) and Sulahmana Bah (forward) clinched the two other awards. Paiber, the Valletta captain, secured the MFPA Challenge League Best Overall Player award.

The MFPA Best Amateur League 1 award went to Julian Azzopardi, the Birżebbuġa St Peter’s goalkeepeer who was prominent during his team’s championship-winning campaign, while Rondinely Monteiro, who plays for National Amateur League 2 winners Victoria Hotspurs, claimed the first MFPA Best Amateur League 2 award.

MERIT AWARD FOR DORIANNE THEUMA

Dorianne Theuma, the former women’s team captain, had a night to remember. After being named MFPA Best Women’s Coach, Theuma was honoured with the MFPA Assikura Merit Award.

Regarded as one of the country’s most talented female players, Theuma has been recognised for her outstanding football career in which she became the first Maltese female player to reach 100 caps for the national team, going on to make 118 appearances. During her glittering career, Theuma also won several honours at club level as well as individual awards.

Theuma retired from competitive football last year to focus on her coaching career, guiding Swieqi United to their maiden women’s championship. She received the MFPA Merit Award from Mark Barbara, Deputy General Secretary of the MFPA.

The MFPA Awards 2025 were presented by Keane Cutajar and Amy Borg.

MFPA AWARDS 2025 – THE WINNERS

MFPA Men’s Best Player: Alexander Satariano (Birkirkara)

MFPA Women’s Best Player: Shona Zammit (Swieqi United)

MFPA Men’s Best Young Player: Alexander Satariano (Birkirkara)

MFPA Women’s Best Young Player: Nicole Sciberras (Hibernians)

MFPA MEN’S BEST XI (1-4-3-3)

Goalkeeper: Henry Bonello (Ħamrun Spartans)

Centre-backs: Oualid El Hasni (Floriana); Gabriel Mentz (Gżira United)

Right-back: Carlo Zammit Lonardelli (Floriana)

Left-back: Leandro Aguirre (Marsaxlokk)

Midfielders: Prince Afriyie (Mosta), Alexander Satariano (Birkirkara), Dunstan Vella (Floriana)