MFA Breaks Down Why Malta’s Male Footballer Of The Year Received More Ornate Trophy Than Female Counterpart
After Malta’s Footballers of the Year were announced, some couldn’t help but ask why the winner of the male category was given a more ornate trophy than his female counterpart.
After the issue was raised online, through social media, the Malta Football Association (MFA) has broken down why.
National players Jurgen Degabriele and Dorianne Theuma clinched the honours after some crazy performances last year.
However, as photos of them standing together surfaced online, some couldn’t help but wonder why there was such a difference between the trophy size of the male category when compared to the female.
“Pity seeing the huge difference between the trophies,” one person said, “given that they won the same award – just different gender.”
The comment drew many others together, of whom noticed the difference too.
At the award ceremony, both athletes were awarded similar trophies for their wins. The only difference was that the Male Footballer of the Year was given an additional, separate trophy – a larger and more ornate one normally kept in the MFA museum.
Speaking with Lovin Malta was MFA president Bjorn Vassallo, who explained why Degabriele was given this trophy.
“The ‘Player of the Year’ trophy presented every year in relation to men’s football belongs to the Association and what the winners, male and female, take in recognition of the award is a glass replica of it – which is the same irrespective of the category.”
In fact, one could see the actual trophy being awarded to Degabriele, by Vassallo in the image below.
“The association is proactive in promoting the involvement of more women in football, not only through several programs for girls, which it has been running for a number of years, but also by pushing for more women in administrative positions.”
“Through the Statutory reform approved last year, as from the Association’s next electoral General Assembly in March 2024, at least one of its three Vice-Presidents post will be occupied by a female candidate, if there are any.”
Degabriele won the Men’s Footballer of the Year after remarkably consistent performances, including a 14-goal tally in 26 appearances.
Scintillating performances from the 25-year-old helped see Hibernians to the BOV title last season.
He garnered the highest number of points from the voting panel, which comprised of the coach, captain, and top officials of 12 clubs within Malta’s Premier League. It also included votes from a selection of journalists who regularly cover football in Malta’s top flight.
Malta’s Female Footballer of the Year – Theuma, – also turned a few heads last season. Her award marks the eighth straight year she’s been made Footballer of the Year.
The Swieqi United skipper enjoyed a decent season, with her team ending the league as runner-up in both the league and knockout. Throughout the year, she scored 10 goals and marked herself as the club’s top scorer.
The MFA awards saw many other athletes win awards for their outstanding performances last season.
Stefano Sanderra claimed the Coach of the Year award in having led Hibernians to last season’s title. Floriana wing-back Adam Magri Overend, conversely, won the Young Player of the Year following some solid performances that led the team to the IZIBET FA Trophy.
Gżira United’s Maxuell Maia, the BOV Premier League’s top scorer with 17 goals was voted Foreign Player of the Year while Pietà Hotspurs midfielder James Scicluna won the BOV Challenge League.
Attard forward Nicholas Schembri also managed to retain the National Amateur League Best Player honour.
What do you make of the different trophies? Let us know in the comments section