MAPFRE MSV Life has recognized the efforts of the players who were voted as the best performers in the MASTERS Football Premier League during the months of November 2018 and January 2019.
The trophies were presented by Michael Galea, Chief Business Development Officer at MAPFRE MSV Life to Paolo Bugeja who plays with Melita Celtics and Carlo Mamo who plays for Dingli Desana. Also present was Mario Meli, President of Masters Football.
Mr. Galea congratulated the players on their excellent performances which have helped their teams to progress in the Masters Premier League.
PAOLO BUGEJA who plays with Melita Celtics was chosen as the PLAYER OF THE MONTH for November 2018. Although Paolo generally plays as an attacker, he was actually recognised for his spectacular performances as a goalkeeper since during November 2018, Paolo took the place of regular goalkeeper Sean Sullivan who was indisposed. Paolo Bugeja’s football career was a short one. It all started at the secondary school of St Aloysius College at the young age of 13. As goalkeeper of the school team, he won the senior inter-school league and best player award. At 16 years he joined Attard FC and played for two and a half seasons. He was in the starting line up from the beginning and distinguished himself with some very good performances. One of his best games was that against Kirkop when he saved two penalties.
In 1995, he moved on loan to Sliema and was the second goalkeeper to Malta ex goalkeeper Ernest Barry. He was trained by former national goalkeeper Charles Sciberras. With Sliema he won a good number of honours and played a number of matches as a starting goalkeeper.
In 1997 Paolo moved on loan to Qormi FC in first division and was prominent in helping the club reach third place, saving seven penalties throughout the season. A year after he was transferred on loan to Hamrun in Premier Division and he was the second goalkeeper to Daniel Denghanki. The then moved to Balzan as the first goalkeeper in the First Division and helped the club to win promotion. Paolo’s final year was in 1999 when Balzan opted to sign Ernest Barry as first goaler and Paolo decided not to be second goaler, going back to Attard FC.
Football means a lot to Paolo and although he stopped playing at semiprofessional level at the age of 25, he always found football as a great way to socialize and interact with team mates. Paolo decided to stop at such a young age in order to further his studies. Masters Football gives Paolo the opportunity to play with ex professional players and enjoy games with the national team. He feels it is an honour to play for Malta with the Masters National team, even at an older age.
CARLO MAMO, DINGLI DESANA, was chosen as the PLAYER OF THE MONTH for January 2019 for his splendid performances both with Dingli and the National Team.
In his football career that started at an early age, he had the honour to play with several leading clubs over a period of 18 years. He played no less than 350 games and won the Malta Premier League Championsip five times with three different clubs.
His started playing with Tarxien Rainbows, his home town club, but his first season ended in a big disappointment as Tarxien were relegated to first division. Next season he joined B’Kara and with this club he achieved success right away winning the Premier League. He went on to join Sliema with whom he won two league titles.
After Sliema he joined M’Xlokk and in his third season with the club, in 2006/07 he won the championship, the first in the history of M’Xlokk. Carlo played 24 games and scored two goals.
In 2010, Carlo re-joined Tarxien where he retired. Carlo now plays wth the Msaters League.
He already won the Masters League with Dingli Desana and this season he is playing at his best as evidenced during the recent international tournament in Malta where he was voted as best player of the tournament.
