PRAGUE, 18 February 2004 — Juventus midfielder Pavel Nedved was named Czech Footballer of the Year for a third time yesterday.
Nedved, voted European Footballer of the Year in December, came on top in a poll conducted among Czech players and managers.
The 31-year-old also won the award in 1998 and 2000.
The Czech captain was rewarded for a series of outstanding performances for Juventus as they retained the Italian league title and reached the Champions League final in May.
However, Nedved missed the final through suspension after being booked in the semifinal, when his spectacular performance was a major factor in the defeat of competition favorites Real Madrid. Juventus lost the final on penalties to AC Milan.
Nedved also helped the Czech Republic to extend their unbeaten run to 19 matches and qualify for Euro 2004 finals in Portugal.
“I would throw all these awards into a bag and exchange them for the European Championship title this year in Portugal,” said Nedved. He was voted Player of the Year by World Soccer magazine in December and shared the award of Italy’s Best Player for 2002-03 with AS Roma striker Francesco Totti last month.
Malta Crush Estonia 5-2; Belarus Edge Moldova 1-0
In Valletta, Etienne Barbara scored once in each half as Malta hammered Estonia 5-2 on Monday to secure their first win in a four-nation tournament they are hosting.
Malta had been held to a goalless draw by Moldova on Saturday in their opening match, but displayed much improved form on the second day of competition.
Estonia came from behind twice in the first half to make it 2-2 at the break but Malta took complete control in the second period.
Barbara had put Malta ahead on 12 minutes before Estonia equalized through a free-kick by Vjatseslav Zahovaiko.
Brian Said headed in Malta’s second after 28 minutes but Raio Piiroja hit back on the stroke of half-time to level at 2-2.
However Malta put the result beyond doubt with second-half goals from Noel Turner, Barbara and substitute Antoine Zahra, the fifth coming just three minutes from time.
“Critics may have harbored doubts as to whether our younger players could deliver the goods for Malta,” said Malta coach Horst Heese. “These players believed in themselves and were rewarded with a handsome win.
In Monday’s other game, Belarus also clinched their first win of the tournament, beating Moldova 1-0.
The Belarussians, who had lost 2-1 to Estonia on Saturday, scored the winner six minutes before half-time when Roman Kirenkin headed home following a free-kick by Viktar Sokal.
Moldova came close to grabbing an equalizer late on but Denis Calincov was denied by Belarus keeper Yury Zhaunou.
The 12th Maltese International Football Tournament ends today when Malta, who lead the standings on four points, face second-placed Belarus.
Estonia and Moldova, who each have one point, meet in the other match.
The tournament, first held in 1986, is part of Malta’s buildup for the World Cup 2006 Group Eight qualifiers.
