Samba Bhandari: From Pamchowk to Global Football Stardom
Quick Profile
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Sabitra Bhandari |
| Nickname | Samba |
| Date of Birth | May 23, 1996 |
| Place of Birth | Lamjung, Nepal |
| Nationality | Nepali |
| Current Residence | Lamjung, Nepal |
| Profession | Professional Footballer |
| Position | Forward |
| Current Club | Wellington Phoenix FC (A-League Women) |
| National Team | Nepal Women’s National Football Team (Captain) |
| International Goals | 66 goals (as of July 2025) |
| Notable Achievements |
|
| Awards |
|
| Famous Quote | “From feeding cattle to breaking barriers.” |
Early Life and Rise to Prominence
The village of Pamchowk in Lamjung, Nepal, is where Sabitra Bhandari was born. She encountered many difficulties as a child growing up in a rural area, such as restricted access to resources and social expectations. Bhandari’s love for football drove her to pursue the game professionally in spite of these challenges. In 2014, she started working for the Armed Police Force (APF) Club, where her extraordinary talent was immediately recognized.
Career Milestones
- Breaking Goal Scorer: With 66 goals in 60 games, Bhandari is the Nepal women’s national team’s all-time top scorer. In addition, she has more international goals than any other South Asian female football player, surpassing Bala Devi of India.
- International Debut: In 2014, she scored a goal against Bhutan in the SAFF Women’s Championship, marking her first international appearance.
- Indian Women’s League Success: Bhandari competed in the Indian Women’s League (IWL), the country’s premier women’s league, for Sethu FC and Gokulam Kerala. With 16 and 31 goals in the 2019–20 and 2022–23 seasons, respectively, she was the leading scorer.
- European Venture: In 2024, Bhandari signed with French team En Avant Guingamp in the Division 1 Féminine, making history as the first Nepali football player to play in a top European league.
- WAFF Championship Achievement: With nine goals, Bhandari led Nepal to the final of the 2024 WAFF Women’s Championship in Saudi Arabia, where she was the tournament’s top scorer.
International Recognition
Bhandari’s prowess on the field has earned her numerous accolades:
- Indian Women’s League Top Scorer: 2019-20, 2022-23
- Top Goal Scorer of the 2016 SAFF Women’s Championship
- Best Player of Pradhansenapati International Women’s Football Tournament (2013)
- Seventh National Games of Nepal Women’s Football Top Goal Scorer (2013)
- 2019 Pulsar Sports Award Women’s Player of the Year
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