The Gozo Football Association (GFA) hosted its annual awards event at a prestigious venue in Gozo. The event, attended by GFA officials, club members, player and special guests including top officials from the Malta Football Association and the Minister for Gozo and Planning, showcased the achievements of players, coaches, and officials throughout the 2024/2025 Gozitan football season.
Christian Mercieca, the 28 year old striker who played for newly crowned champions Qala Saints, was the main protagonist of the GFA Awards 2024/2025 as he won the prestigious honour of the GFA Player of the Year for the third time in his career.
Qala Saints’s success this season was also complimented as their coach Shaun Bajada won the honour as the Coach of the Year for the second consecutive year.
Nadur’s Brazilian midfielder Diego Pires Dall’Oca also distinguished himself throughout the event by clinching three personal honours which were the People’s Choice Award, the Best Midfielder and the Best Foreign Player of the BOV Gozo Football League of the first division.
Nadur Youngsters had other players who were honoured as Steve Sultana won the goalkeeper of the year and Ian Xuereb won the best defender. Xewkija Tigers had two players who won the hounour of their respective category, as Brian Parada won the Best Forward while 17 year old Denzil Bugeja the best youth player. Xewkija’s Parada together with Henrique Da Silva Costa were presented with the trophy as the Top-Scorers of the top flight with 19 goals each.
Kercem Ajax’s superiority in the second division category this season was also reflected in the honours of the category. Kercem’s central defender Samuel Azzopardi was awarded the Best Player of the second division, while Brazilian striker Cesar Velez Da Silva won the Best Foreign Player of the second division and was also presented with the trophy as the Top Scorer with 21 goals. Kercem, who dominated the second division category by winning all their matches and by lifting the three competitions of the category, completed the clean sweep by winning the Fair Play Award s they ended up the season with the best record in terms of sanctioning and discipline.
The honours in the Youth sector went to Luke Fenech of SK Victoria Wanderers as the Best Player U/19, while Matthias Bonnici of Xewkija Tigers was presented with the trophy as the Top Scorer of U/19 with 11 goals.
During this annual event the Gozo Football Association presented special awards. Lino Hili, Joe Psaila and Louis Apap received a reward of recognition for their contribution towards the development of the Gozitan football long the years, while Gozitan referee Joseph Scerri received an award for his achievement in his career after making his debut as a referee in the 360 Sports Malta Premier on 1 May 2025.
The GFA extended gratitude to the Malta Football Association and presented a token of commemoration on the 125 Anniversary of MFA.
The President of the Gozo Football Association Dr Samuel Azzopardi delivered a speech where he warned about the challenges of Gozitan football in the future and thanked the Malta Football Association, the Ministry for Gozo and Planning and numerous sponsors for their continuous support in various ways.
Individual Honours 2024/2025:
Christian Mercieca (Qala Saints): GFA Player of the Year
Shaun Bajada (Qala Saints): GFA Coach of the Year,
Diego Pires Dall’Oca (Nadur Youngsters): GFA People’s Choice Award, GFA Best Midfielder, GFA Best Foreign Player BOV Gozo Football League 1st Division.
Steve Sultana (Nadur Youngsters): GFA Best Goalkeeper
Ian Xuereb (Nadur Youngsters): GFA Best Defender
Brian Parada (Xewkija Tigers): GFA Best Forward; GFA BOV Gozo Football League 1st division Top Scorer 19 goals
Henrique Das Silva Costa (SK Victoria Wanderers): GFA BOV Gozo Football League 1st division Top Scorer 19 goals.
Denzil Bugeja (Xewkija Tigers): GFA Young Player of the Year,
Samuel Azzopardi (Kercem Ajax): GFA 2nd division Player of the Year,
Cesar Velez Da Silva (Kercem Ajax): GFA 2nd division Foreign Player of the Year, BOV Gozo Football League 2nd division Top scorer 21 goals,
Luke Fenech (SK Victoria Wanderers): GFA Player of the Year U/19,
Matthias Bonnici (Xewkija Tigers): GFA Top Scorer U/19 11 goals
Kercem Ajax: GFA Fair Play Award,
Lino Hili, Joe Psaila, Louis Apap: Recognition Award
Joeph Scerri: Award for Achievement