Westin Malta Football Awards

Players and coaches were feted for their outstanding contribution to the local game last season during the third Westin Malta Football Awards held on Saturday night.

True to expectation, the bulk of the accolades were picked by players from Sliema Wanderers, winners of a domestic league and cup double in season 2003-2004.

Edward Aquilina, the Sliema mentor, was named coach of the year for the second year running, and their international midfielder Stefan Giglio landed two awards as best Maltese player and best midfielder.

Jeffrey Chetcuti and Danilo Doncic, both of Sliema, also featured among the winners as the best defender and best striker respectively.

Pietà Hotspurs also had plenty of cause to be satisfied on Saturday as two of their players were honoured. Saviour Darmanin topped the best goalkeeper category for the second year in a row and Hotspurs' striker Ivan Woods was handed an award for the best goal of the season... a first-time, arching shot in his side's 4-1 win over Floriana in the first round of the Championship Pool.

The honour as the best foreign player in the Premier League was bestowed on Andre Rocha Da Silva, Floriana's Brazilian midfielder. Andrè Schembri, of Hibernians, was named Malta's most promising youngster while Dorianne Theuma, a key member of the Hibernians women's team, clinched the Best Female Player award. Nicky Saliba and Salvinu Schembri received a special award in recognition for their achievements during their careers.