Wellington Phoenix Women General Discussion

Hopefully the Nepalese federation reaching out might be able to get the costs down, she clearly believes that it is the best place for her recovery process. 

At the Phoenix, New Zealand players – and foreign players who suffer injuries in New Zealand – have medical costs covered by ACC.

Foreign players who are injured in Australia – as Bhandari was – need the insurance payouts.

As a taxpayer I see the logic to this, but still it feels a bit arbitrary when our players are zipping back and forth across the Tasman for work every couple of weeks.

Not that much an issue I'm guessing between either have ACC fund everything if injury occurred in NZ, verus getting a NZ$25,000 insurance payout if the injury happened in Aus.

I imagine $25K would go a long way to covering the costs of an ACL op, with an excellent knee specialist surgeon in NZ.

The issue here is that Samba is delaying her surgery until she has raised the $NZ135K to have the op (and post op recovery) in Qatar. As the article says the longer she waits, the more likely she is to miss a chunk of the next ALW season.
It's typically a 9 month recovery?  The ALW starts November each year?


I mean it's her body, and if she had a great result last time in Qatar with her first ACL fair enough she wants to do her 2nd op there. But the Nix as her employer could rightly start to get a bit pissed off, if it drags on much longer. Esp when sportspeople have ACL ops all the time in NZ all the time which are successful.

She's on a 2 year deal, which is bit uncommon in the ALW?? 
So the NZ could rightly say 'we have shown a 2 year investment/commitment, be nice to have that reciprocated'

If she's not available for work in NZ,id cancel her contract there and then.

Other injured players seem to be doing their bit for the club,as they are still getting paid.

Good news and hopefully she is back for the Wahinix next season.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/360943087/wellington-phoenix-star-sabitra-bhandari-raises-what-she-needs-surgery-cutting-edge-facility

Wellington Phoenix star and Nepalese international Sabitra Bhandari has raised the $135,000 she needs to have knee surgery and do her rehab at the “cutting edge” Aspetar facility in Qatar within the space of 24 hours – and then some.

A day after she posted an initial plea for financial support – with the significant costs of receiving treatment at the same facility where she previously had knee surgery in 2021 not fully covered by insurance – Bhandari wrote on Facebook:
“The word 'thank you' seems too small today“.

“I cannot describe in words the support, trust and love I have received for my treatment in the last 24 hours.

“Financially, you have already covered the cost of my treatment.”

Bhandari had set up a Givealittle page, which closed with $56,712 having been raised.

That is incredible fund raising.  Wish she had never got injured in the first place though 

Is Samba angry with us? I’m not sure we’re her happy place!

“Wellington Phoenix star and Nepalese international Sabitra Bhandari has raised the $135,000 she needs to have knee surgery and do her rehab at the “cutting edge” Aspetar facility in Qatar within the space of 24 hours – and then some.”

Entitled is the word that comes to mind.
A well paid professional fundraising for a bespoke medical procedure while a free and probably better service is available via her contract,
Meanwhile some parents can’t afford boots for their kids to play.
Bad optics here.

yes the free (covered by ACC and her own insurance) is available here, but she wasnted to use the surgeons shed seen last time. For whatever reason she though Qatari surgeons and facilities would be better than in NZ.
She could be correct in this belief and as far as I'm aware the Nix insurance was provided towards her costs, so the club has done its part, but she doesnt get any cover from ACC as shes getting the op. out of the country.

From what I understand, because the injury was done in Australia, its not covered by ACC here. So the clubs insurance would have had to cover it.
I can understand her wanting to get the surgery done at the same place she had her successful first surgery. I had two ACL reconstructions and that pre surgery period is always an anxious time because you just want to get it right with no complications (which is never guarantied, ie, I got a post opp infection here on second ACL surgery even though it was done by a top NZ surgeon, ended up having to get 3 more subsequent surgeries and spent 3 weeks in a public hospital bed). 
But its the delays that I think are going to be frustrating for the club. If Samba has surgery next month, then with a 9 - 12 month rehab. That means she will be taking up a visa spot for most of next season but might not be available to play till March next year when there are only a few games left to play. 
That was kind of why MvdM was released from her contract for last season.

ACC will cover overseason injuries and treatment for NZ residents and people considered ordinarily residfent in NZ provided the treatment and recovery occurs in NZ. I'd assume Samba would be considered as ordinarily resident bbut as she wants the Qatari treatment ACC isnt invovled.

Elbo

“Wellington Phoenix star and Nepalese international Sabitra Bhandari has raised the $135,000 she needs to have knee surgery and do her rehab at the “cutting edge” Aspetar facility in Qatar within the space of 24 hours – and then some.”

Entitled is the word that comes to mind.
A well paid professional fundraising for a bespoke medical procedure while a free and probably better service is available via her contract,
Meanwhile some parents can’t afford boots for their kids to play.
Bad optics here.

I'm totally over her. Hope she doesn't come back.

theprof

ACC will cover overseason injuries and treatment for NZ residents and people considered ordinarily residfent in NZ provided the treatment and recovery occurs in NZ. I'd assume Samba would be considered as ordinarily resident bbut as she wants the Qatari treatment ACC isnt invovled.

According to this article by Andrew Voerman the other day:

"At the Phoenix, New Zealand players – and foreign players who suffer injuries in New Zealand – have medical costs covered by ACC.
 Foreign players who are injured in Australia – as Bhandari was – need the insurance payouts." 

So apparently she wouldn't qualify for ACC and would rely on the insurance payout instead. 

The article mentions the insurance payout is $24,000 NZ and that it would cover the full cost of having the operation in NZ. 

Also it has a quote saying that the full insurance payout the club gets will go towards the surgery cost in Qatar.

It's important part of her body and her job depends on it.
I can understand that she want's what she thinks is the best for her.
How footballer get paid for the rehab? I mean 24K for an operation is one thing, but not being able to work for 9-12month is just a lot more dough.

number8

It's important part of her body and her job depends on it.
I can understand that she want's what she thinks is the best for her.
How footballer get paid for the rehab? I mean 24K for an operation is one thing, but not being able to work for 9-12month is just a lot more dough.

But she's on a 2 year contract with the Nix, so presumably is being paid for these 9-12 months not playing.

Wonder if Samba is reconsidering going to Qatar with today's new of war in the middle east. Probably just means more delays before she gets surgery

coochiee

number8

It's important part of her body and her job depends on it.
I can understand that she want's what she thinks is the best for her.
How footballer get paid for the rehab? I mean 24K for an operation is one thing, but not being able to work for 9-12month is just a lot more dough.

But she's on a 2 year contract with the Nix, so presumably is being paid for these 9-12 months not playing.

With todays events in the middle east sadly think unless she signs another contract we are unlikely to see her play for the Wahnix again. 

I really hope she gets good
Surgery result  wherever that happens and gets back to us as soon as possible. Imagine the carnage for other teams with her and Makayla Wood running riot at them together!

https://www.friendsoffootballnz.com/2026/03/04/watch-phoenix-coach-bev-priestman-guests-on-latest-the-unused-subs-show/

WATCH: Phoenix coach Bev Priestman guests on latest The Unused Subs show

Head coach of the Wellington Phoenix women’s A-League team, Bev Priestman, was the special guest of this week’s The Unused Subs show.

Panellists Jacob Spoonley, Goran Paladin and Paul Ifill caught up with Priestman, and covered topics including:

Here’s the 49-minute episode of The Unused Subs first streamed on March 3, 2026:

https://youtu.be/YM8q5FZ9vQI

Game is in August verus Chelsea Women.
https://www.friendsoffootballnz.com/2026/03/23/jeff-hopkins-named-head-coach-of-ninja-a-league-women-all-stars/