Haley Bugeja has been left out of the final top five nominees for the MFA Awards Female Player of the Year despite enjoying another strong campaign in Italian football with Inter Women in Serie A.
The Maltese international, widely regarded as one of Malta’s leading female footballers abroad, scored 17 goals throughout the season while continuing to establish herself in one of Europe’s most competitive women’s leagues.
Bugeja’s performances have also received recognition internationally. Only recently, the Inter Women forward was named in the U23 Best XI during the ‘Athora Game On – All Stars Long’ awards ceremony following another standout campaign in Italy.
Earlier this year, she was also honoured by the Malta Sports Journalists Association during the 66th edition of L-Għażliet Sportivi Nazzjonali, where she won the Female Athlete of the Year award.
Despite these achievements, Bugeja did not feature among the final five nominees announced for the MFA Female Player of the Year category.
According to the MFA Awards regulations, voting for the award is carried out by a panel composed of captains, head coaches, club officials from the top women’s league, national team technical staff, as well as MFA-accredited journalists representing various Maltese media organisations.
The omission has already generated discussion among followers of Maltese football, considering Bugeja’s performances abroad and the recognition she has received both locally and internationally throughout the season.
