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Football scores big at SportMalta Awards

Published: 25-02-2017 20:55
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It was a successful night for Maltese football at the SportMalta Awards L-Għażliet Sporitivi Nazzjonali as the three nominations put forward by the Malta Football Association won their respective categories. Malta Under-21 mentor Silvio Vella was named coach of the year with an impressive total of 110 points. The judging panel, made up of the heads of sport and journalists representing the country’s leading media houses, recognised Vella’s achievement in guiding the Malta U-21 to a spate of excellent results in the last UEFA U-21 Championship qualifying campaign. MFA coach Noel Turner received the award on behalf of Vella who is overseas. The Malta U-21 team were also honoured during today’s ceremony, held at the Mediterranean Conference Centre. Their feat in collecting 11 points at the last Euro U-21 qualifiers – the best ever haul for a Maltese national selection – earned them the team of the year prize with a total of 84 points. Former referee Esther Azzopardi scooped the official of the year accolade with a winning total of 94 points. Officiating in the 2017 FIFA Women’s U-17 World Cup, staged in Jordan, was one of the highlights for Mrs Azzopardi last year which turned out to be her last as an active referee. Mrs Azzopardi announced her retirement from refereeing last month but has remained actice in the sector after taking up new roles within the MFA Refereeing Department. Kevin Azzopardi, the MFA Director of Refereeing, collected the award as Mrs Azzopardi was unable to attend today’s ceremony.