At 3:19 pm on Monday (Nepali time), Sabitra Bhandari, aka Samba, wrote an emotional Facebook post seeking financial support for her ACL surgery.

Samba, Nepal’s all-time leading goal scorer, ruptured the Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) in her right knee in the second half of Wellington Phoenix's Round 11 match against Brisbane Roar on January 3. The injury was sustained when Samba collided with Brisbane’s goalkeeper Chloe Lincoln.

It is the second time Samba sustained an ACL injury. The first was during the match against Nepal Police Club during the National Women’s League 2078.

Samba had received treatment for her first injury in Qatar in 2021 and returned home in February 2022.

Now, she has reinjured the same knee, which could sideline her for at least nine to 12 months.

“There has been a serious injury to both the ACL graft that was inserted during my previous surgery and the MCL in my knee. Because of this, I now have to undergo another complex surgery,” Samba wrote on Facebook. “Last time, under the initiative of the ANFA leadership, all arrangements and support for my treatment were managed. At that time, I had no financial or mental difficulties, which is why I was able to return to the field on time.”

But the scenario is different this time.

“As you all already know, I have been out of the field for the past seven weeks due to injury. If things had gone as expected, by now I would have already had surgery for my injury and started physiotherapy some time ago. But I am still wandering around in search of treatment,” wrote Samba.

According to her, a surgery date had been set through the club’s (Wellington Phoenix) initiative for three weeks after the injury after a promise from the All Nepal Football Association (ANFA).

“But this time, even the support promised by the ANFA leadership was not received,” she wrote, adding, “ANFA said it would make efforts from its side. However, the process did not move forward from ANFA as stated. Despite my repeated attempts, it was difficult to contact them.”

Wellington Phoenix, as per Samba, has said that it is ready to arrange treatment for her at a local hospital in New Zealand.

“However, since my injury is serious and my previous treatment at Aspetar (Aspetar Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Hospital) in Qatar was of a very high standard, I wish to undergo treatment again at the same hospital,” Samba said. “The club will release to me the amount received from insurance. But since that amount will not be sufficient for my surgery and 7–8 months of rehabilitation, I have come to seek support from all supporters.”

Aspetar is one of the world’s leading medical institutions in the sector of sports medicine and rehabilitation.

According to Samba, the preliminary estimate for her treatment and rehabilitation is $80,000 (Rs 11,582,392).

“Last week, the ANFA president himself informed me that ANFA would not be able to provide sufficient support for my treatment. He said they would provide up to Rs500,000 and that I should handle the other procedures myself,” she wrote.

After the post, ANFA, which is usually under criticism for several instances of negligence towards football and players, has started receiving more criticism.

As a result, Samba reached out to the netizens seeking financial support.

“For me, this has become the most difficult battle of my career. I had never imagined that this situation would arise. After even ANFA, which I considered my guardian, stepped back, it is now your supporters who are by my side. Hearing arguments within ANFA that I was injured while playing for my club has disappointed me,” read her Facebook post.

“The amount required for this treatment is something I have not earned financially until today. That is why I am here today asking for your help. I hope the necessary support for my treatment will be collected soon,” she wrote.

Samba has shared a link (https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/support-sambas-surgery-stand-with-sabitra) through which her fans from around the globe can send financial support. She has also shared her personal bank account (0210605412307013 of Agriculture Development Bank) for those who would like to support her treatment.

As of 5 pm Nepali time, when one tries to send her support on her Agriculture Development Bank’s account, it states, “Sorry, receiver’s bank account receiving has been exceeded.”

Meanwhile, there is no restriction through the link of givealittle.co.nz, a crowdfunding site. A funding of USD135,000 is being raised for Samba through the site, where, as of 5:30 pm, USD10,134 had been raised.

She also argued that the efforts to seek support from the Nepali government were also not going forward as expected. “As I am abroad, efforts have also been made to represent me before the government and seek assistance for my treatment. However, as the government process has not moved forward as expected, I am not in a position to delay surgery any longer,” she wrote.

“On one hand, the process I had previously initiated was halted; on the other hand, after nearly two months, I now have to try again to secure a surgery date,” she wrote.

As funds are being provided by fans at a rapid rate, the required amount is expected to be raised soon.

Nonetheless, Samba’s condition has raised the situation of Nepali footballers’ concern once again: why should I give my 100 percent for the country?

“And if I, the captain of the national team who has reached and played in Europe, have to face this situation, then think what the condition of others might be,” Samba stressed in her post. “I have continuously raised my voice about this issue, yet fate has once again brought me into this situation.”