The Nepal Weekly 
August 1, 2025
The captain of the Nepalese women’s football team Sabitra Bhandari has signed with A-League club Wellington Phoenix to be engaged until the end of the 2026-27 season.
Nepal’s leading woman football player Sabitra Bhandari, popularly known as ‘Samba’ has signed with Wellington Phoenix, a New Zealand-based club that competes in Australia’s top-tier A-League Women.
The club announced recently on 16 July that Sabitra Bhandari has joined on a two-season contract, marking another step in her already remarkable career.
Wellington Phoenix praised the forward as a prolific goal scorer for both club and country, calling her signing a significant addition to their squad.
Bhandari recently well performed in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Qualifiers, netting nine goals, including back-to-back hat-tricks.
She also stunned fans in India’s Women’s Super League, scoring over 60 goals in just 24 appearances.
Her scoring feats earned her a move to En Avant Guingamp in France, where she became the first Nepali footballer to play and score in a top-tier European league.
Wellington Phoenix praised the forward as a prolific goal scorer for both club and country, calling her signing a significant addition to their squad.
Bhandari recently impressed in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Qualifiers, netting nine goals, including back-to-back hat-tricks.
She also stunned fans in India’s Women’s Super League, scoring over 60 goals in just 24 appearances.
Her scoring feats earned her a move to En Avant Guingamp in France, where she became the first Nepali footballer to play and score in a top-tier European league.
Sabitra’s rise from playing barefoot with a ball made from old socks in her hilly village to international football fame is both inspiring and groundbreaking. She has spoken openly about confronting patriarchal norms, economic hardships, and inadequate sports infrastructure in Nepal.
Wellington Phoenix FCa fast rising football club, but within the A-Leagues (Australia and New Zealand’s top-tier football leagues), it holds a unique and increasingly respected position – especially as the only professional club from New Zealand competing in Australia’s national competitions.
Wellington Phoenixis a growing force and a pioneering club in Oceania, especially for women’s football. While not globally prestigious in a traditional sense, its commitment to growth, diversity, and cross-border competition gives it a progressive and respected reputation, especially for players from underrepresented footballing nations like Nepal.
