Sabitra Bhandari (Nepali: साबित्रा भण्डारी), popularly known as Samba,[1][2] is a Nepalese professional football player who plays as a forward for Première Ligue club En Avant Guingamp and Nepal women's national team.

She is the all-time highest goal scorer in Nepalese football history and broke record as the highest woman goal scorer in South Asia with 53 goals. She made history by being the first Nepalese player to play and score in European league.[3]

Career

At club level, Bhandari plays for APF Club. Bhandari made the Nepal 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.[4] In February 2017 she was invited to play the Maldives women's league.

She became the highest scoring women striker of south Asia at the age of 20.

Sethu FC

She joined Indian Women's League side Sethu FC for the 2018-19 Indian Women's League season.[5][6][7] In her debut match she scored 4 goals for the club against Manipur Police Sports Club on 6 May 2019. She was also awarded with women of the match in her first match with Sethu FC.

She scored almost two goals a game during her time in India, leading Sethu FC to winning Indian Women’s League title.[8][9]

Gokulam Kerala FC

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

After joining Gokulam Kerala FC again for the 2023 season, she continued her phenomenal prolificacy, managing league top scorer 31 goals, including five hat-tricks, to fire her club to league glory.

This lead her to lifting her third Indian Women’s League trophy.[10]

Hapoel Ra'anana

In June 2023, Bhandari joined Israeli club Hapoel Ra'anana[11] with the announcement receiving over 800 comments and thousands of views while the Israeli embassy in Kathmandu invited her to congratulate her personally.[12] 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.[13][14] She opened the 2024–25 Ligat Nashim season well, scoring all 4 goals in a 4–0 victory over Ramat HaSharon.[15] She also scored in her second match, a 1–1 draw against Hapoel Petah Tikva.[16] Afterwards she scored an injury time equaliser against last season's runner-up Hapoel Katamon Jerusalem.[17] Following the 7 October attack, Bhandari's spell was cut short[18][19] after scoring six goals in four league games as well as one goal in three cup matches.[20]

En Avant Guingamp

She made her debut on Feb 3rd, 2024 coming as a substitute on 78th minute. She is the first Nepalese player to play and score in European league.

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.[21] She scored the only goal in a friendly victory against Malaysia on 17 December 2016.[22]

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.[23]

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Sethu FC 2018–19 Indian Women's League 7 15 — — — 7 15
Total 7 15 — — — 7 15
Gokulam Kerala 2019–20 Indian Women's League 7 16 — — — 7 16
2022–23 10 29 — — — 10 29
Total 17 45 — — — 17 45
Hapoel Ra'anana 2023–24 Liga Alef North 2 5 — — — 2 5
Total 2 5 — — — 2 5
En Avant Guingamp 2023–24 Première Ligue 4 1 — — — 4 1
2024–25 5 1 — — — 5 1
Total 9 2 — — — 9 2
Career total 35 67 — — — 35 67

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Nepal 2014 - 1
2015 - 1
2016 - 13
2017 - 1
2018 - 1
2019 - 18
2020 - 0
2021 - 0
2022 - 2
2023 - 4
2024 - 11
Total 50 51

International goals

No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1. 12 November 2014 Jinnah Sports Stadium, Islamabad, Pakistan  Bhutan 8–0 8–0 2014 SAFF Women's Championship
2. 13 February 2016 Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Shillong, India  Sri Lanka 2–0 4–0 2016 South Asian Games
3. 3–0
4. 26 December 2016 Kanchenjunga Stadium, Siliguri, India  Bhutan 1–0 8–0 2016 SAFF Women's Championship
5. 2–0
6. 3–0
7. 5–0
8. 6–0
9. 7–0
10. 28 December 2016  Maldives 1–0 9–0
11. 2–0
12. 3–0
13. 4–0
14. 6–0
15. 2 January 2017  India 1–2 1–3
16. 11 November 2018 Thuwunna Stadium, Yangon, Myanmar  Myanmar 1–0 1–1 2020 AFC Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament
17. 11 February 2019 Kalinga Stadium, Bhubaneswar, India  India 1–0 2–1 2019 Women's Gold Cup
18. 2–0
19. 13 February 2019  Iran 2–0 3–0
20. 3–0
21. 9 April 2019 Bahtoo Stadium, Mandalay, Myanmar  Indonesia 1–0 2–1 2020 AFC Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament
22. 2–1
23. 12 March 2019 Sahid Rangsala, Biratnagar, Nepal  Bhutan 2–0 3–0 2019 SAFF Women's Championship
24. 16 March 2019  Bangladesh 2–0 3–0
25. 20 March 2019  Sri Lanka 3–0 4–0
26. 22 March 2019  India 1–1 1–3
27. 8 September 2019 Central Stadium Karakol, Kyrgyzstan  Kyrgyzstan 1–0 8–2 Friendly
28. 2–0
29. 6–2
30. 7–2
31. 10 September 2019  Tajikistan 1–0 1–0
32. 5 December 2019 Pokhara Rangasala, Pokhara, Nepal  Maldives 1–0 3–0 2019 South Asian Games
33. 2–0
34. 3–0
35. 6 September 2022 Dasharath Rangasala, Kathmandu, Nepal  Bhutan 1–0 4–0 2022 SAFF Women's Championship
36. 2–0
37. 16 February 2023 Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium, Chennai, India  India 1–2 2–2 Friendly
38. 2–2
39. 5 April 2023 Dasarath Rangasala, Kathmandu, Nepal  Vietnam 1–4 1–5 2024 AFC Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament
40. 13 July 2023 Bir Sherestha Shaheed Shipahi Mostafa Kamal Stadium, Dhaka, Bangladesh  Bangladesh 1–1 1–1 Friendly
41. 20 February 2024 King Abdullah Sports City Reserve Stadium, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia  Syria 1–0 4–1 2024 WAFF Women's Championship
42. 22 February 2024  Iraq 1–0 5–0
43. 2–0
44. 3–0
45. 4–0
46. 5–0
47. 24 February 2024  Palestine 1–0 4–0
48. 2–0
49. 27 February 2024 Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Sports City, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia  Lebanon 1–1 2–1
50. 24 October 2024 Dasharath Rangasala, Kathmandu, Nepal  Sri Lanka 2–0 6–0 2024 SAFF Women's Championship
51. 27 October 2024  India 1–1 1–1 2024 SAFF Women's Championship
52. 20 February 2025  Lebanon 0–1 0–1 2025 Vianet Championship
53. 23 February 2025  Myanmar 2–2 2–2

Honours

Sethu FC

Gokulam Kerala

Individual

  • Indian Women's League Top Scorer: 2019–20, 2022–23[25]
  • 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.[26]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Bhandari on course of becoming all-time best". kathmandupost.com. Archived from the original on 19 July 2020. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
  2. ^ "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.
  3. ^ Baniya, Sudesh (5 March 2024). "Feeding cattle to breaking barriers: Nepal goal machine Sabitra Bhandari". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 6 March 2024.
  4. ^ "Women's Tournament Best Forward". GoalNepal. 3 May 2016. Archived from the original on 27 December 2016. Retrieved 27 December 2016.
  5. ^ "सावित्रा र अनिता भारत प्रस्थान". deshsanchar.com. Archived from the original on 6 May 2019. Retrieved 29 April 2019.
  6. ^ "पहिलो पटक इन्डियन लिग खेल्न जाँदै सावित्रा र अनिता". deshsanchar.com. Archived from the original on 6 May 2019. Retrieved 28 April 2019.
  7. ^ "भारतमा सावित्रा र अनिता". baahrakhari.com. Archived from the original on 20 June 2021. Retrieved 3 May 2019.
  8. ^ Baniya, Sudesh (5 March 2024). "Feeding cattle to breaking barriers: Nepal goal machine Sabitra Bhandari". The Guardian.
  9. ^ "Bhandari's journey from barefoot dreamer to Nepal dazzler". inside.fifa.com.
  10. ^ "Bhandari's journey from barefoot dreamer to Nepal dazzler". inside.fifa.com.
  11. ^ "Bhandari signs for Israeli club Raanana". The Kathmandu Post. 14 June 2023.
  12. ^ Eichner, Itamar (24 June 2023). "טירוף ה"סמבה": כוכבת הכדורגל הנפאלית חתמה בישראל" ["Samba" madness: Nepalese soccer star signs in Israel]. ynet (in Hebrew).
  13. ^ "SAMBA Starts With A Debut Goal For Hapoel Raanana Women FC". Goal Nepal. 18 August 2023.
  14. ^ "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.
  15. ^ "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.
  16. ^ 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).
  17. ^ "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.
  18. ^ "SAMBA: I Am Taking Refuge With The Staff At Nepalese Embassy". Goal Nepal. 9 October 2023.
  19. ^ "Nepali footballer Sabitra Bhandari returns home from Israel". República. 12 October 2023.
  20. ^ "סביטרה בנדרי" [Sabitra Bhandari] (in Hebrew). Israel Football Association. Retrieved 27 February 2025.
  21. ^ "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.
  22. ^ "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.
  23. ^ "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.
  24. ^ "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.
  25. ^ "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.
  26. ^ "सावित्रालाई उत्कृष्ट महिला खेलाडी अवार्ड". Hamrokhelkud.com. Archived from the original on 3 July 2019. Retrieved 3 July 2019.
Allikas: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sabitra_Bhandari
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