The Gozitan Inter Supporters Club has honoured goal keeper Samir Handanovic with their annual Best Player award.
For this occasion a group of 16 members led by club president Joe Bajada visited Milan, and said that they had some wonderful experiences that will never be forgotten. They were fortunate to visit Inter Headquarters at Corso Vittorio Emmanuele II, where all members had the opportunity to admire all the trophies won by Inter during their glorious history.
The Gozitan group also had a lovely surprise during their visit to the Centro Cordinamento, there they were met by Mario Corso the legendary former captain and coach of Inter. Corso who specialised in direct free kicks represented Inter in 423 games between 1957 and 1973, during this time he found the back of the net 75 times. During the 1985-86 season he led Inter as a coach. Corso represented Italy 23 times, scoring 4 goals between 1961-1971.
During a meeting between Joe Bajada and officials at the Centro Cordinamento, it was agreed that members present would get a once in a lifetime opportunity during Inter's match with Torino. Inter Supporters Club secretary Mario Tabone lead a group of 9 members to the San Siro touchline to witness warm ups from the starting 11, along with their reserve teammates.
The supporters club said that this was the first opportunity of its kind and they were the only club given this chance during the match. Meanwhile the other members were given the chance to tour San Siro where they visited the substitution bench and dressing room fully loaded and ready to go before the arrival of Inter's players.
After the final whistle of a Neroazzuri victory over Granata by the score of 2-1 thanks to captain Mauro Icardi's double, the president of the Gozo supporters club Joe Bajada, assisted by assistant secretary Alvin Grech presented the best player of the year award to Samir Handanovic, voted as such by the votes of the members of Gozo's branch.
The supporters club said that Handanovic was very pleased to receive the award and signed photographs of himself with the award to be given to each member present.
Asked directly by Bajada if he would be coming down to Malta for the World cup qualifying match between Malta and Slovenia taking place in November, the Inter goalkeeper said that he would not be present having now retired from international play.
The Gozitan supporters club thanked the Inter directors, along with officials at the Centro Cordinamento, mementos of the Gozo club were presented to both parties. Inter directors praised the Gozo branch and said that the supporters club visit had brought luck to Inter, returning the club to their winning ways
Photo: President of Gozo (Malta) Inter supporters club Joe Bajada presenting the trophy to Samir Handanovic in the presence of Alvin Grech.