Samba joins New Zealand’s top division club Wellington Phoenix after leaving French club

Kathmandu – The captain of the Nepali national team, Sabitra Bhandari, has parted ways with the French club Guingamp. She is set to launch her professional career with New Zealand’s top division club, Wellington Phoenix.

In a conversation with DeshSanchar, Sabitra expressed her commitment to maintaining the performance and confidence she gained at Guingamp. She stated, “I decided not to continue after my contract with Guingamp ended. Now, I’ll advance my professional career with New Zealand’s top division club, Wellington Phoenix.” She noted that this club has been participating in a professional league based in Australia. Sabitra mentioned that the support and encouragement she received during this phase will remain her source of inspiration, and she hopes for continued support from her fans.

Sabitra has signed with Wellington for the 2025-26 season of Australia’s ‘A-League’. Although Wellington is a New Zealand-based club, it competes in Australia’s top division league.

Earlier, she had also indicated on social media that the time had come for her to leave the club. She expressed her gratitude toward the club and fans, highlighting that the two-year journey was significant for her career.

On social media, Sabitra wrote, “The past two years partnering with the club have been incredible. I’ll always be proud of the journey we shared for two seasons. The support and goodwill during this time have meant a lot to me.” She further added, “Now we will embark on different paths for new beginnings. I’m forever grateful for the love given by the club and supporters, and my support for the club will persist, no matter where I am.”

Sabitra scored a total of 7 goals during her two seasons with the team.