Wellington Phoenix star Sabitra ‘Samba’ Bhandari could be set to make a sensational return from her Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injury before 2027.
That’s according to Melbourne City star Taylor Ray, who revealed the exciting news on the first episode of Kicking Back, the A-Leagues’ brand new weekly show dedicated to all things women’s football.
After a bright start to life in the Ninja A-League, Nepalese star Samba had her 2025/26 season cruelly cut short after rupturing her ACL during a clash with Brisbane Roar in Matchweek 11.
Suffering the injury for the second time in her career, Samba subsequently returned to Qatar, where her first surgery was performed, to go under the knife once more to correct the issue.
CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR TICKETS TO THE NINJA A-LEAGUE
Speaking with Melbourne City teammate Aideen Keane and Ninja A-League Champion and new Kicking Back host Sarah Rowe, Ray revealed she’s heard from an inside source that Samba isn’t too far away from a return to A-Leagues action.
“Not revealing sources but it was actually really interesting to hear about her update,” Ray said with a smile when asked what she’d heard.
“Coming from an ACL injury, and she was such a star player for Wellington last year, I’m hearing that she’s going to be back in a couple months.
“She’s been working with someone very tightly every single day.
“Obviously, it’s a tough rehabilitation process, but to have such good care from Wellington seems like she’s on a really good track to coming back in the next few months, and hopefully can make it mid-season.
TRANSFER CENTRE: Ninja A-League 2026/27 Transfer Centre: Your club’s moves
“For them [Wellington] that strengthens their squad majorly.”
If true, the news will come as a major boost for Bev Preistman’s Wellington, following an impressive 2025/26 campaign which saw them reach last season’s Ninja A-League Grand Final.
Beaten 2-1 by Ray and Keane’s Melbourne City at Hnry Stadium on the opening weekend of the Ninja A-League season, Wellington now turn their attention to another home clash in Matchweek 2, where they face Melbourne Victory on Sunday, October 25.
