Nando Pijnaker was a relative unknown when he was announced as the 22nd player to have joined Auckland FC but it’s safe to say fans – and opposition strikers – know all about him now. The Black Knights’ central defender spoke to aleagues.com.au ahead of this weekend’s New Zealand Derby.
To say Auckland FC’s record-breaking start to life in the Isuzu UTE A-League caught many people by surprise would be an understatement.
Reeling off six-straight victories and going seven games unbeaten before tasting defeat, the Black Knights quickly became the hottest ticket in town as the city of Auckland fell in love with their new football team.
TEAM NEWS: Ins & Outs Round 20: Shock curveball in derby squads as legend eyes miracle return
Fast forward four months and the Black Knights are no longer shocking people. In fact, the rest of the competition is now well aware of the new kids on the block given they head into Round 20 and the third edition of the New Zealand Derby sat five points clear at the top of the ladder.
CLICK HERE TO BUY YOUR TICKETS TO THE ISUZU UTE A-LEAGUE
“I think the way we look at it is that we’re a brand new club, and it’s going really well,” smiled Pijnaker when asked if talk of silverware is now rife amongst the Auckland FC dressing room.
“That’s all we’re kind of thinking about, I don’t think the coaches would allow us to even bring up silverware whatsoever. So none of that’s happening at all.
He continued: “I haven’t won an A-League championship personally, so I can’t be talking or anything. Steve’s (Corica) won the A-League before, so he’s been in this position, he probably knows what’s the best way to go around it, and we have to listen to what the coach is saying.
“And so far, what he’s saying is going really well for us. So we don’t want to jinx anything. We’re in a good moment right now.”
Officially the 22nd player to have signed for the Isuzu UTE A-League’s newest side, Pijnaker’s return to New Zealand went somewhat under the radar, however the 24-year-old international has quickly established himself as one of the competition’s most dominant defenders after making the move from Irish club football.
FEATURE READ: Socceroo’s DMs could unlock the next wave in 10-player influx: ‘The calibre is surprising’
“I think it was very, I guess, unexpected what Auckland FC would would be like, because it’s obviously a brand new team. I didn’t know all the players that they’d even signed before I came. So it was all a whole new experience.
“But it’s been better than I expected. The quality of the training sessions, the players we brought in and all the facilities we have are better than I thought they would have, especially being a brand new team.
“I thought obviously there’d be a little bit of disorganisation but I didn’t feel that at all. All I felt was that they were a club that are doing things properly in every single area.
He continued: “Whether that be like the training and stuff, or even the club rooms or the media, obviously, has been amazing for us.
“So I think the whole club has been doing a really good job. I think all of that feeds onto the pitch, which is making us perform and do quite well.”
Ranked amongst the league’s best when it comes to duels won and interceptions made, Pijnaker’s ability on the ball has been equally as impressive, as has his knack of scoring important goals for the side – a tally that currently stands at three.
But as his head coach laid out in a pre-season interview with aleagues.com.au, defences win you championships and the fact that the Black Knights currently sit clear at the top of the league having conceded just 12 goals from 16 games kind of proves his point. For now.
A key component alongside Pijnaker in the Auckland rearguard has been legendary Japanese defender Hiroki Sakai.
Named the club’s inaugural captain, Sakai brought with him an incredible wealth of experience which has seen him not only build a successful career in both France’s Ligue 1 and the German Bundesliga but also win trophies such as the J League 1 title and an AFC Champions League crown.
“Yeah, he’s amazing. I’m a fan of Hiroki. He’s my favourite player on the team!
“I think you can see his class and you can tell that he’s played at the highest level in training. Everything for him seems to be happening in slow motion.
“So he sees a lot of things that other players don’t so there’s lots that I can learn from him. I try to ask him a lot of questions. He’s great for the whole team, because he’s been through so much in his career.”
Asked specifically what he felt he’s learned from Sakai this year, Pijnaker revealed what seems, on the face of it, to be a basic piece of game management.
CAPTAIN FANTASTIC: Auckland skipper re-signs: Why Hiroki Sakai ‘couldn’t imagine’ leaving the Black Knights
However, when you factor it into the season as a whole thus far and the way in which Auckland have defended… well, it makes complete sense.
“Moments in games where maybe we don’t want to play out from the back for the last couple of minutes before half-time so we can keep it goalless, or that the other team doesn’t have a chance to score. He’s really smart at that sort of thing at playing the game.
“So yeah, for me he’s been amazing. And it’s not just helping me. I think he helps the whole team and he’s also a fantastic person off the field. Very friendly, very nice and easy to talk to so it’s been great.”
On Saturday Auckland FC have the chance to move a whopping eight points clear in the title race but if they want to do that then they’ll have to complete a New Zealand Derby ‘whitewash’ over rivals Wellington Phoenix.
Having seen off Giancarlo Italiano’s men 2-0 in the first ever NZ Derby at Sky Stadium in Round 3, the Black Knights then made it two from two against the Nix, defeating them 2-1 at Go Media Stadium on December 7.
To make matters even sweeter, Pijnaker and Co now have the chance to complete a clean sweep over their rivals in front of a packed out partisan crowd this weekend after the game was officially confirmed as a sell out.
“I think it’s fantastic. I think it’s amazing for especially the kids growing up, getting to watch, I guess, a New Zealand Derby, which hasn’t really been a thing before and seeing that a New Zealand team can also compete at the highest level, at the top end of the ladder, and compete for the league.
“It’s also more opportunities. Now, there’s not just the one professional team being the Wellington Phoenix in New Zealand. Now, there’s other pathways. There’s one now in Auckland, and there’s one in Wellington.
“So I think it’s only going to grow the game in New Zealand which is a really good thing. I would have loved this (for) there to be more opportunities when when I was younger. So I think it’s amazing. Obviously it’s great that we get so many fans coming to both our home games and the game we played down in Wellington.”
For Pijnaker, whilst Saturday’s New Zealand Derby promises to be a full-throttle affair, there will be a little bit of admiration for the opposition, or at least one of their players.
Signed on transfer deadline day from Malaysian side Johor Darul Ta’zim. Wellington bolstered their attacking line-up with the loan signing of Portuguese creator Francisco ‘Chico’ Geraldes, a player of whom Pijnaker knows well and owes a lot to after their paths crossed earlier in the careers.
“He’s a top, top guy,” said the defender when asked about his relationship with Geraldes following their time spent together at Portuguese side Rio Ave in 2020.
“He was really nice when I was in Portugal. He’s Portuguese, but he had spent time in other countries playing football.
“I remember when I got there he was talking to me and I think he sent me a few messages saying, like ‘if you ever need anyone to talk to you or you need any help with anything like, let me know.’
Nando Pijnaker on his relationship with Wellington Phoenix attacker Francisco Geraldes
He continued: “So he was, really nice about that, which helps, because when you’re a foreigner that doesn’t speak the language, and you’re coming into a new environment, it’s difficult, so you need people like him to help you out. So I’m really thankful for for that.
“But yeah, it was kind of out of the blue, his opportunity coming to Wellington. I’m not too sure how it came about, but I don’t think he knew anyone from from New Zealand, except for me.
“So yeah, he gave me a call and said, like, tell me something about New Zealand, because he didn’t have too much of an idea. So it’s kind of cool to tell him what to expect so that hopefully he gets here and gets comfortable, hopefully not against us obviously!”
