Sabitra Bhandari

Sabitra Bhandari
Bhandari in 2019
Personal information
Full name Sabitra Bhandari
Date of birth (1996-05-23) 23 May 1996
Place of birth Lamjung, Nepal
Position Forward
Team information
Current team
 Wellington Phoenix
Number 9
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2014–2019 APF 18 (74)
2018–2019 Sethu 7 (15)
2019–2020 Gokulam Kerala 7 (16)
2022–2023 Gokulam Kerala 10 (29)
2023 Hapoel Ra'anana 4 (6)
2024–2025 Guingamp 29 (7)
2025– Wellington Phoenix 6 (3)
International career‡
2014– Nepal 61 (68)
Medal record
Women's football
Representing    Nepal
South Asian Games
Silver medal – second place2016 India
Silver medal – second place2022 Nepal
SAFF Women's Championship
Runner-up2019 Nepal
Runner-up2022 Nepal
Runner-up2024 Nepal
WAFF Women's Championship
Runner-up2024 Saudi Arabia
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 26 January 2026
‡ National team caps and goals as of 6 July 2025

Sabitra Bhandari (Nepali: साबित्रा भण्डारी),[1] popularly known as Samba,[2][3] is a Nepalese professional footballer who plays as a striker for A-League Women club Wellington Phoenix and captains the Nepal national team.

She is the all-time highest goal scorer in Nepalese football history and broke record as the highest female goalscorer in South Asia, with 53 goals.[4] She made history by being the first Nepalese player to play and score in top tier European league.[5] She is also the first ever South Asian player to score a hat-trick in a top tier European league.[6][7]

Career

At club level, Bhandari played for APF Club. Bhandari made into Nepal national team for the 2014 South Asian Football Federation ChampionshiP and made her international debut against Bhutan, coming off the bench and sealing an 8–0 victory as a 17-year-old.[8]

Sethu

She joined Indian Women's League side Sethu for the 2018-19 Indian Women's League season.[9][10][11] In her debut match she scored 4 goals for the club against Manipur Police on 6 May 2019. She was also awarded with women of the match in her first match with Sethu.

She scored in average of two goals a game during her time in India, leading Sethu FC to winning Indian Women's League title.[12][13]

Gokulam Kerala

Bhandari joined Gokulam Kerala for the 2019–2020 season, and eventually won the League championship title and was the league top scorer with 16 goals.

After returning to Gokulam Kerala for the 2023 season, she was the league's top scorer with 31 goals, including five hat-tricks. Her performance helped the team win the league title, marking her third Indian Women's League trophy.

Hapoel Ra'anana

In June 2023, Bhandari joined Israeli club Hapoel Ra'anana[14] with the announcement receiving over 800 comments and thousands of views while the Israeli embassy in Kathmandu invited her to congratulate her personally.[15] Bhandari made her club debut in August, playing in a cup match against Maccabi Kishronot Hadera, scoring a 90th minute goal in a 2–0 win.[16][17] She opened the 2024–25 Ligat Nashim season well, scoring all 4 goals in a 4–0 victory over Ramat HaSharon.[18] She also scored in her second match, a 1–1 draw against Hapoel Petah Tikva.[19] Afterwards she scored an injury time equaliser against last season's runner-up Hapoel Katamon Jerusalem.[20] Following the October 7 attacks, Bhandari's spell was cut short[21][22] after scoring six goals in four league games as well as one goal in three cup matches.[23]

Guingamp

She made her debut on Feb 3rd, 2024 coming as a substitute on 78th minute. She scored her first goal against Lille OSC on March 2, 2024. In her first season, she scored 1 goal in 10 games for Guingamp.[24]

In 2024–25 season, she scored 6 goals in 19 games making her Guingamp's top goal scorer for 2024–25 season. On March 21, 2025, Bhandari scored brace against Paris Saint-Germain. She also scored hattrick against AS Saint-Étienne making her first ever Nepalese and South Asian player to score hattrick in top tier league in Europe.

Wellington Phoenix

In July 2025, Wellington Phoenix announced the signing of Bhandari on a two-year contract.[25] On 20 December 2025, Sabitra Bhandari scored two goals and provided one assist for Wellington Phoenix in a league match against Sydney in the A-League Women. The match marked her fourth appearance for the club, during which she found the net for the first time. With this performance, Bhandari became the first Nepali footballer to score in the A-League Women.

International career

Bhandari represents Nepal at the international level. She participated in and even scored a goal against Bhutan at the 2014 SAFF Women's Championship. She represented the country during the 2016 South Asian Games where she scored two goals against Sri Lanka.[26] She scored the only goal in a friendly victory against Malaysia on 17 December 2016.[27]

Bhandari then played in Nepal's first match of the 2016 SAFF Women's Championship against Bhutan. She scored six goals as Nepal won 8–0 to open the tournament and scored 5 goals against Maldives in the 2nd group match.[28]

Career statistics

Club

Club Season League National cup Continental Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
APF 2017–18 ANFA Women's League 527527
2021 12431243
2022 1414
Total 18741874
Sethu 2018–19 Indian Women's League 715——— 715
Total 715———715
Gokulam Kerala 2019–20 Indian Women's League 716——— 716
2022–23 1029——— 1029
Total 1745———1745
Hapoel Ra'anana 2023–24 Liga Alef North 46——— 46
Total 46———46
En Avant Guingamp 2023–24 Première Ligue 41——— 41
2024–25 256——— 256
Total 297———297
Wellington Phoenix 2025–26 A-League Women 63——— 63
Total 63———63
Career total 71150———71150

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Nepal 2014-1
2015-1
2016-13
2017-1
2018-1
2019-20
2020-0
2021-0
2022-2
2023-4
2024-11
2025-13
Total5668

International goals

No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.12 November 2014Jinnah Sports Stadium, Islamabad, Pakistan Bhutan8–08–02014 SAFF Women's Championship
2.13 February 2016Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Shillong, India Sri Lanka2–04–02016 South Asian Games
3.3–0
4.26 December 2016Kanchenjunga Stadium, Siliguri, India Bhutan1–08–02016 SAFF Women's Championship
5.2–0
6.3–0
7.5–0
8.6–0
9.7–0
10.28 December 2016 Maldives1–09–0
11.2–0
12.3–0
13.4–0
14.6–0
15.2 January 2017 India1–21–3
16.11 November 2018Thuwunna Stadium, Yangon, Myanmar Myanmar1–01–12020 AFC Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament
17.11 February 2019Kalinga Stadium, Bhubaneswar, India India1–02–12019 Women's Gold Cup
18.2–0
19.13 February 2019 Iran2–03–0
20.3–0
21.12 March 2019Sahid Rangsala, Biratnagar, Nepal Bhutan2–03–02019 SAFF Women's Championship
22.16 March 2019 Bangladesh2–03–0
23.20 March 2019 Sri Lanka3–04–0
24.22 March 2019 India1–11–3
25.9 April 2019Bahtoo Stadium, Mandalay, Myanmar Indonesia1–02–12020 AFC Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament
26.2–1
27.8 September 2019Central Stadium Karakol, Kyrgyzstan Kyrgyzstan1–08–2Friendly
28.2–0
29.6–2
30.7–2
31.10 September 2019 Tajikistan1–01–0
32.12 September 2019 Uzbekistan1–?2–3
33.2–?
34.5 December 2019Pokhara Rangasala, Pokhara, Nepal Maldives1–03–02019 South Asian Games
35.2–0
36.3–0
37.6 September 2022Dasharath Rangasala, Kathmandu, Nepal Bhutan1–04–02022 SAFF Women's Championship
38.2–0
39.16 February 2023Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium, Chennai, India India1–22–2Friendly
40.2–2
41.5 April 2023Dasarath Rangasala, Kathmandu, Nepal Vietnam1–41–52024 AFC Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament
42.13 July 2023Bir Sherestha Shaheed Shipahi Mostafa Kamal Stadium, Dhaka, Bangladesh Bangladesh1–11–1Friendly
43.20 February 2024King Abdullah Sports City Reserve Stadium, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia Syria1–04–12024 WAFF Women's Championship
44.22 February 2024 Iraq1–05–0
45.2–0
46.3–0
47.4–0
48.5–0
49.24 February 2024 Palestine1–04–0
50.2–0
51.27 February 2024Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Sports City, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia Lebanon1–12–1
52.24 October 2024Dasharath Rangasala, Kathmandu, Nepal Sri Lanka2–06–02024 SAFF Women's Championship
53.27 October 2024 India1–11–1
54.20 February 2025 Lebanon1–01–02025 Vianet Championship
55.23 February 2025 Myanmar2–22–2
56.29 June 2025Milliy Stadium, Tashkent, Uzbekistan Laos2–09–02026 AFC Women's Asian Cup qualification
57.4–0
58.6–0
59.7–0
60.2 July 2025 Sri Lanka2–08–0
61.3–0
62.4–0
63.5 July 2025 Uzbekistan1–23–3
(2–4 p)
64.3–3
65.27 October 2025Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Shillong, India India1–02–1Friendly
66.2–0

Honours

Sethu FC

Gokulam Kerala

Individual

  • Indian Women's League Top Scorer: 2019–20, 2022–23[30]
  • Top Goal Scorer of 2016 SAFF Women's Championship,
  • Best Player of Pradhansenapati International women's football tournament 2013,
  • Seventh National Game Of Nepal 2013 women's football top goal scorer,
  • 2019 Pulsar Sports Award woman's Player Of The year.[31]

See also

References

  1. ↑ https://www.instagram.com/reel/DPGLVtMidyW/?igsh=dm5pN29pd2szZnZ2
  2. ↑ "Bhandari on course of becoming all-time best". kathmandupost.com. Archived from the original on 19 July 2020. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
  3. ↑ "Nepal's all-time top scorer Sabitra Bhandari 'Samba' features in FIFA.com". The Himalayan Times. 2 June 2020. Archived from the original on 19 July 2020. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
  4. ↑ "Bhandari leads women goalscorers in South Asia". kathmandupost.com. Retrieved 17 July 2025.
  5. ↑ Baniya, Sudesh (5 March 2024). "Feeding cattle to breaking barriers: Nepal goal machine Sabitra Bhandari". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 6 March 2024.
  6. ↑ "Guingamp 3-2 St. Etienne (7 May, 2025) Final Score - ESPN (UK)". ESPN. Retrieved 17 July 2025.
  7. ↑ "Nepal's pride Samba shines again in France – Nepal Samaj". 8 May 2025. Retrieved 17 July 2025.
  8. ↑ "Women's Tournament Best Forward". GoalNepal. 3 May 2016. Archived from the original on 27 December 2016. Retrieved 27 December 2016.
  9. ↑ "सावित्रा र अनिता भारत प्रस्थान". deshsanchar.com. Archived from the original on 6 May 2019. Retrieved 29 April 2019.
  10. ↑ "पहिलो पटक इन्डियन लिग खेल्न जाँदै सावित्रा र अनिता". deshsanchar.com. Archived from the original on 6 May 2019. Retrieved 28 April 2019.
  11. ↑ "भारतमा सावित्रा र अनिता". baahrakhari.com. Archived from the original on 20 June 2021. Retrieved 3 May 2019.
  12. ↑ Baniya, Sudesh (5 March 2024). "Feeding cattle to breaking barriers: Nepal goal machine Sabitra Bhandari". The Guardian.
  13. ↑ "Bhandari's journey from barefoot dreamer to Nepal dazzler". inside.fifa.com.
  14. ↑ "Bhandari signs for Israeli club Raanana". The Kathmandu Post. 14 June 2023.
  15. ↑ Eichner, Itamar (24 June 2023). "טירוף ה"סמבה": כוכבת הכדורגל הנפאלית חתמה בישראל" ["Samba" madness: Nepalese soccer star signs in Israel]. ynet (in Hebrew).
  16. ↑ "SAMBA Starts With A Debut Goal For Hapoel Raanana Women FC". Goal Nepal. 18 August 2023.
  17. ↑ "גביע אתנה מחזור 2 – פרטי המשחק – מכבי כשרונות חדרה 0 : 2 הפועל רעננה" [Athena Cup Round 2 – Match details – Maccabi Kishronot Hadera 0 : 2 Hapoel Ra'anana] (in Hebrew). Israel Football Association. 17 August 2023.
  18. ↑ "ליגת על נשים מחזור 1 – פרטי המשחק – מ.כ. רמת השרון 0 : 4 הפועל רעננה" [Ligat Nashim Round 1 – Match details – F.C. Ramat HaSharon 0 : 4 Hapoel Ra'anana] (in Hebrew). Israel Football Association. 1 September 2023.
  19. ↑ Bar, Yuval (14 September 2023). "כבר לא מושלמות: 1:1 בין הפועל פ"ת לרעננה" [Not perfect anymore: 1:1 between Hapoel PT and Ra'anana]. One (in Hebrew).
  20. ↑ "בדקה ה-91: צפו בשער האדיר של רעננה נשים" [In the 91st minute: Watch the amazing goal of Ra'anana Women]. Sport 5 (in Hebrew). 6 October 2023.
  21. ↑ "SAMBA: I Am Taking Refuge With The Staff At Nepalese Embassy". Goal Nepal. 9 October 2023.
  22. ↑ "Nepali footballer Sabitra Bhandari returns home from Israel". República. 12 October 2023.
  23. ↑ "סביטרה בנדרי" [Sabitra Bhandari] (in Hebrew). Israel Football Association. Retrieved 27 February 2025.
  24. ↑ "Sabitra Bhandari Goal Logs". FBref.com. Retrieved 17 July 2025.
  25. ↑ "Proven goal scorer joins the Nix". Wellington Phoenix. 17 July 2025.
  26. ↑ "SAG: Kamala Devi stars in India's title triumph". The Hindu. 15 February 2016. Archived from the original on 27 December 2016. Retrieved 27 December 2016.
  27. ↑ "Bhandari's goal ensures Nepal victory over Malaysia". The Himalayan Times. 17 December 2016. Archived from the original on 27 December 2016. Retrieved 27 December 2016.
  28. ↑ "Sabitra inspired Nepal routs Bhutan". The All Nepal Football Association. 26 December 2016. Archived from the original on 27 December 2016. Retrieved 27 December 2016.
  29. ↑ "Indian Women's League 2023: Gokulam Kerala thrash Kickstart FC 5–0 to win third consecutive title". sportstar.thehindu.com. Chennai: Sportstar. 21 May 2023. Archived from the original on 22 May 2023. Retrieved 22 May 2023.
  30. ↑ "Gokulam Kerala steamroll Kickstart to complete hat-trick of Hero IWL titles". the-aiff.com. All India Football Federation. 21 May 2023. Archived from the original on 22 May 2023. Retrieved 21 May 2023.
  31. ↑ "सावित्रालाई उत्कृष्ट महिला खेलाडी अवार्ड". Hamrokhelkud.com. Archived from the original on 3 July 2019. Retrieved 3 July 2019.
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