KATHMANDU: Captain of the Nepali national women’s football team Sabitra Bhandari has appealed to her supporters for financial assistance to undergo treatment for a serious knee injury.
Bhandari, popularly known as “Samba,” revealed that she has been sidelined for the past seven weeks due to a severe knee injury. She said the graft placed during a previous surgery and her medial collateral ligament (MCL) have been re-injured, requiring a complex surgical procedure.
Although her earlier treatment had been facilitated with support from the All Nepal Football Association (ANFA), she stated that she has not received the expected administrative and financial assistance this time.
“However, this time I did not receive the expected administrative and financial support from ANFA,” she said, adding that the surgery date had to be rescheduled due to financial constraints.
Bhandari said her current club is willing to arrange treatment at a local hospital in New Zealand. However, she plans to travel to Qatar for advanced medical care.
“My club has shown readiness to arrange treatment at a local hospital in New Zealand, but I want to return to a hospital in Qatar for high-level treatment,” she said, estimating the total cost at around 80,000 US dollars.
She has urged supporters to contribute financially through QR code or bank transfer, while international supporters can assist via a ‘Givealittle’ link.
In an emotional appeal, Bhandari said, “This is the toughest battle of my career. I am tired, but not defeated. I will return to the field wearing Nepal’s jersey once again.”
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