Exactly seven weeks after the completion of Cup Match, and with no mainstream media present, St. George?s batting star Chris Foggo was awarded Cup Match MVP on Friday night.

A far cry from the usual fanfare surrounding the presentation to the top performer in the Island?s showpiece sporting event, Foggo was given the award at the club?s own awards evening.

The only sign, even three days later, that the powerful national team batsman had been given the Bank of Butterfield MVP award was a picture on the Islandstats.com website, but no other media ? nor the Bermuda Cricket Board themselves ? were aware of the official announcement.

St. George?s Cricket Club president Neil Paynter was quick to defend the manner of the announcement, yet another strange twist in a 2005 Cup Match story that his included a pay-per-view row, spitting and punching on the field, accusations of xenophobic sledging and, a fact that has been somewhat lost, a dramatic St. George?s victory.

?I don?t see what all the fuss is about,? said Paynter yesterday.

?This presentation was no different to other years. You weren?t asking these questions when the awards were made up at Somerset.

?I don?t know why you guys are always looking for something suspicious. The sponsors came to our event and awarded Chris Foggo MVP.

?The fact that it was so late is not our fault, the decision was not made by us so we can?t be to blame for it not being announced.?

In 2003 and 2004, the first two years the Bank of Butterfield sponsored the prestigious award, the Cup Match MVP announcement was made on August 12 and August 10 respectively.

But this year it was made more than a month later than that with no official notification to the media.

When contacted a spokesperson for the Bank of Butterfield said there was nothing suspicious about the announcement?s timing or lack of media presence, adding that a Press statement was being prepared and a photo of the event would be issued.

Foggo, who was elevated to the ICC Trophy team from standby, celebrated his first Cup Match half-century with a sparkling second innings 59 ? scored in just 68 balls and containing six fours and two sixes ? as well as taking three first innings catches.The MVP is chosen by the third umpire at the showpiece game, which this year was Anthony Fubler.