Sabitra appeals for financial support as ANFA declines treatment request
Sports Nepal Kathmandu: Nepal national women’s football team star Sabitra Bhandari ‘Samba’ has appealed for financial support for her Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) surgery through a Facebook post on Monday.
Alleging that the football governing body, the All Nepal Football Association (ANFA), declined her request to arrange surgery at Aspetar Hospital in Qatar, she shared a lengthy statement seeking financial assistance.
National team captain Sabitra sustained a serious knee injury seven weeks ago while playing for Wellington Phoenix in Australia’s A-League. Medical reports confirmed a tear in the ACL graft in her knee, and she is expected to remain sidelined for at least nine months.
She had previously suffered a serious knee injury about four years ago while representing APF Club against Nepal Police Club in a domestic league match. At that time, ANFA, in coordination with the Qatar Football Association, had arranged her treatment at Aspetar Hospital in Qatar.
The prolific striker, who has scored 68 international goals, said she requires around 80,000 US dollars (approximately Rs 11.5 million) for the surgery and appealed to supporters for help.
According to Sabitra, both the previously inserted ACL graft and the MCL have sustained significant damage. She also expressed strong dissatisfaction over what she described as ANFA’s indifference to her situation.
“If ANFA had understood the seriousness of my injury, I would have already undergone surgery and started physiotherapy by now,” wrote Sabitra, who has earned 59 international caps for Nepal. “But I am still struggling to manage treatment.”
She noted that under the previous ANFA leadership led by president Karma Tsering Sherpa, her treatment had been fully managed and supported.
According to Sabitra, current ANFA president Pankaj Bikram Nembang informed her last week that the association could not take full responsibility for her treatment. Instead, ANFA would provide financial assistance of Rs 500,000 and advised her to manage the remaining treatment process on her own.
