ANFA disgraced itself by ignoring medical treatment of Nepal’s biggest women’s football star Samba

 

Nepal’s biggest women’s football star Sabitra Bhandari,skipper of the women’s national football team has been in the news lately.

It’s about her injury that requires prompt surgery.She faced financial constraint, causing delay in her surgery,

Keeping in mind her accomplishments in  women’s football,she needs no introduction.Since her career took off under challenging  circumstances,it did not take long for her  to carve a niche for herself in South Asia  and beyond .  

The  highly talented player  rose to greatness and  international stardom from a humble background in Simpani in Lamjung district,her birthplace playing barefoot with a ball made out of socks.

 

As a striker she has  proved her ability  to score  goals consistently.Her prolific  scoring record  has made her  the all-time   leading  goal scorer of both Nepal and South Asia. It came as no surprise when she earned the title of goal scoring machine. 

She  became the first Nepali footballer, including both men and women,to play in the European league and score goals. Additionally, she scored  a hattrick,becoming the first South Asian footballer to achieve the feat.

After  starting her international career with Indian clubs Sethu and Gokulam  Kerala, she made history  by  signing up for the Israeli club Hapoel Ra’anana, followed by the French club En Avant Guingamp and her current  New Zealand club Wellington Phoenix.

Bhandari, popularly known by her nickname Samba, was forced to use  the social media platform Facebook to appeal  for  financial support for the  treatment of her injury in Qatar.

The  public response was  overwhelming. The fundraising  drive  undertaken both abroad and in  Nepal raised a  whopping Rs 14 million in twenty four hours.

Her medical expenses are expected to be around Rs 10 million.Thanking her supporters  she urged them to cease donating to her accounts because she now has the money needed  to cover her medical bills.

Currently, she plays for New Zealand's A-League  Wellington Phoenix club  and due to  injury  has been out of action for quite a while.

It may be recalled that she sustained injury to  her right knee which later  turned out to be serious in nature  while playing against  Australian club Brisbane Roar in the   Australian Ninja A League.She ruptured her ligament known  as Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) in medical terms.

Prior to this, when she was in action playing  in the National Women’s League in Nepal she had sustained a similar injury to the same knee in 2021.But then the entire medical expenses  for her treatment,which included surgery, was promptly taken care of by All Nepal Football Association (ANFA). Consequently,it enabled her to make a timely recovery and return to action.

Her current situation, however, is  very different.Unlike the past,the football body ridiculously took a U- turn, turning  a blind eye to her medical condition and treatment needs.

After  her appeal to  ANFA and the government  for monetary help went in vain,she was left with no choice but to seek assistance from the general public.

In fact, ANFA  must always  address active national players injuries and medical concerns even if they sustain injuries while playing for foreign clubs, They  should be committed to the welfare of players regardless.

It is unimaginable and shameful that both ANFA and the government did nothing to help a player of Samba stature who has done so much for the country in terms of glorifying the country internationally.

Indeed this is disturbing  and proves that ANFA  has little or no concern for players  physical, mental well-being and protection  against  short and long term injuries.

No wonder ANFA has come under scathing criticisms from all quarters for its failure to provide medical treatment to Samba who is the face of Nepal women’s football.

This infuriated sports enthusiasts and players  who staged demonstrations  against ANFA for blatantly ignoring Samba’s medical needs .

Samba is resolute in her  determination to be back on the field stronger than ever   before .She has made it very clear that she can’t wait to play for the country.