Kathmandu, May 4

Captain of the Nepal women’s national football team, Sabitra Bhandari (Samba), has travelled to Qatar for rehabilitation following knee surgery.

She said she will stay at Aspetar Hospital for a few months to continue treatment and recovery. Through social media, Samba expressed gratitude to her supporters, club, and all those who assisted her, adding that her recovery is progressing well.

However, she also mentioned feeling disappointed with the current state of football in Nepal. At the same time, she expressed hope for improvement and said she remains focused on returning to the field soon.

Samba, who plays for Wellington Phoenix FC Women in the Australian A-League, sustained the injury during a match last December. She suffered an ACL tear in her right knee after colliding with a goalkeeper.

Around two months later, in February, she had appealed for financial support, stating that the All Nepal Football Association had not assisted with her treatment. Following her appeal, Nepali supporters from around the world contributed financially.

She later underwent successful surgery in Auckland, New Zealand, performed by Dr Simon and his team. At the time, travelling to Aspetar in Qatar was difficult due to conditions in the Gulf region, so the treatment was carried out in New Zealand.