Nepal women’s football captain Sabitra Bhandari, popularly known as Samba, is set to play in Australia’s A-League, having signed a two-season contract with Wellington Phoenix.
Although Wellington Phoenix is a club based in New Zealand, it competes in Australia’s A-League Women competition. The club praised Sabitra as an outstanding goal scorer for both club and country, calling her signing a crucial step for the team.
Sabitra recently showcased her remarkable skills by scoring a total of 9 goals, including two hat-tricks, during the AFC Women’s Asian Cup qualifiers.
Before this, Sabitra made history by becoming the first Nepali player to play and score in a top European league, representing French club En Avant Guingamp. She netted over 60 goals in just 24 matches in India’s Women’s Super League prior to her stint in Europe.
Wellington Phoenix’s interim head coach Amy Shepherd expressed enthusiasm about Sabitra’s arrival: “We are proud to welcome Sabitra. She has proven her talent in France, and her experience, leadership, and attacking skills will strengthen our squad.”
Excited about the new opportunity, Sabitra said, “I am thrilled to join Wellington Phoenix. I want to score many goals and make our fans happy. When I heard about the club’s goals for the upcoming season, joining the team was an easy decision for me.”
Sabitra also announced her departure from Guingamp today, thanking the club for a memorable two-year journey.
