A major coup for the Wellington Phoenix.
The Phoenix have secured the signature of Nepal women’s captain Sabitra Bhandari for the next two Ninja A-League seasons.
Bhandari, 29, has been a prolific goal scorer for both club and country.
The striker, popularly known as Samba, has scored 66 goals in 60 matches for Nepal, including remarkably netting three hat-tricks in three matches in the recent AFC Women’s Asian Cup qualification tournament.
She found the back of the net more than 60 times in just 24 matches in the Indian Women’s Super League, helping secure a move to En Avant Guingamp in France, where last year she became the first Nepalese player to play and score in a top European league.
Interim Phoenix head coach Amy Shepherd believes the Phoenix have signed “a proven goal scorer of exceptional calibre”.
“We are proud to welcome Sabitra to the Phoenix whānau and look forward to the impact she will make both on and off the field,” Shepherd said.
“She has demonstrated her abilities against some of the best players in the world in France, and brings a wealth of international experience and attacking prowess to our squad.
“Sabitra is a national icon in Nepal and the country’s all-time leading goal scorer, and her leadership, experience, and on-field excellence will be invaluable both on and off the pitch.
“Her natural movement, intelligent link-up play, and clinical finishing are qualities we believe will significantly enhance our effectiveness in the final third. Her presence promises to add a new dimension to our attacking play.
“Beyond her footballing talents, Sabitra’s inspiring journey, determination, and deep love for the game resonate strongly with the values of our club.
“Her story is one our fans — both long-time supporters and newcomers — will undoubtedly connect with.”
Sabitra Bhandari can’t wait to get to Wellington for the start of pre-season training in September.
“I am really excited to come to the Phoenix, score lots of goals and make the fans super happy,” Bhandari said.
“When I heard about the Phoenix’s ambitions for next season, it was easy for me to make the decision to join.”
Sabitra Bhandari is the 17th player confirmed in the Wellington Phoenix women’s squad for the 2025-26 A-League, with further signings and re-signings to follow in the coming weeks.
