Women’s football star Samba honoured

By Rammani Dahal,Makwanpur, Aug. 3: Nepali women’s national football team captain Sabitra Bhandari, popularly known as ‘Samba’, who has brought international recognition to Nepal through her achievements in football, was honoured in Hetauda on Saturday.

Sancharika Group Makawanpur presented Samba with a cash award of Rs 50,000 at a special event titled "Our Acquaintance and Honour Programme", which celebrated national figures contributing to the country’s pride.

During the event, it was acknowledged that Samba has played a unifying role through sports and significantly raised Nepal’s profile on the global stage.

Sharing her personal journey, Samba recalled starting her football career by making a ball out of socks. She said her success was the result of determination, perseverance, and dedication to the sport, despite growing up in poverty.

“Today is an unforgettable day,” she said. Reflecting on her struggles, she added, “Playing barefoot and using makeshift footballs taught me invaluable lessons. If I had grown up with all the facilities, I might not have reached where I am today.”

The cash prize was sponsored by the Hetauda School of Management.

The programme was chaired by Sanumaya Gurung (Nisha), President of Sancharika Group Makawanpur. Deputy Mayor of Hetauda Sub-metropolitan City, Rajesh Baniya, and Director of Hetauda School of Management, Puran Bahadur Joshi, jointly presented the award.

Samba, who was recently signed by a football club in New Zealand, previously played for a club in France.