Kathmandu, February 23
Sabitra Bhandari, popularly known as ‘Samba’, captain of the Nepali national women’s football team, has appealed for financial assistance to cover her medical treatment.
Through social media, she stated that her treatment would cost a total of USD 80,000 and urged the public and organisations to contribute.
Samba revealed that she has sustained severe injuries to both the previously grafted ACL and the MCL in her knee, necessitating complex surgery.
She added that due to the seriousness of her injury and the high-quality treatment she received at Aspetar Hospital in Qatar, she wishes to undergo her surgery there again.
Samba also expressed frustration over not receiving support from the All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) or the government. She said that even the assistance promised by ANFA officials has not materialised.
“Last week, the ANFA president personally informed me that administrative support from ANFA could not be provided. He said they could provide up to NPR 500,000 in cash and that I would have to manage other arrangements myself. On one hand, the process I had previously initiated was halted, and now I must make a fresh attempt to schedule surgery after nearly two months,” she explained.
Samba lamented that government procedures have also not progressed as expected. “There have been efforts to represent me before the government for assistance. However, since the process could not move forward as anticipated, I am left in a position where I cannot proceed without surgery,” she wrote.
Currently playing for Wellington Phoenix in the Australian A-League, Samba suffered a serious knee injury about one and a half months ago during a match. In the second half of the game against Brisbane Roar, she collided with the goalkeeper, resulting in a torn ACL in her right knee.
