Nando Pijnaker

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I was born in the Netherlands but moved to New Zealand with my family when I was just three. We settled in Rotorua, and that’s where my love for football took off. I played for Western Heights High School and joined Ngongotaha, a local club, where I made my first-team debut at 15.  

After Ngongotaha, things kicked into gear when I moved to Wellington in 2015 to join the Olé Football Academy. It was run by Declan Edge, and it had a strong reputation for developing players. I played for Western Suburbs, the academy’s affiliated club, in the Central League. We won the league in 2017, and in 2018, we made it to the final of the Chatham Cup. That period shaped me as a player.  

Through Olé Academy, I signed for Eastern Suburbs, where we won the ISPS Handa Premiership and qualified for the OFC Champions League. Then in 2019, after New Zealand’s U-20 World Cup campaign, I followed Declan Edge to Sweden and joined Torslanda IK. That was my first overseas experience, and I made my debut there in June 2019.  

From there, things moved quickly. In January 2020, I had a 10-day trial with Grasshopper in Switzerland, which ended with me signing for the club. I joined my international teammate Max Mata there, but I only made a couple of appearances before moving on.  

After Grasshopper, I signed a four-year deal with Rio Ave in Portugal’s Primeira Liga in August 2020. It was a big move for me, but the competition was fierce. In 2021, I went on loan to FC Helsingør in Denmark to get more playing time, and then in 2022, I moved to Sligo Rovers in Ireland on a season-long loan. That loan turned into a permanent transfer, and I had a solid run with the club.  

In April 2024, I collided with our goalkeeper, Ed McGinty, in a match against St Patrick’s Athletic. I ended up breaking my ribs, which was tough. Injuries are always frustrating, but it’s part of the game. I recovered and continued playing, but in September 2024, I decided to leave Sligo to return closer to home.  

Auckland FC is an ambitious club, and it’s great to be part of something new in the A-League. I joined the team in September 2024, just in time for their debut season. I’m looking forward to helping the club grow and succeed.  

Representing New Zealand is always an honour. I was part of the U-20 team for the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup, and playing in that tournament was a great experience. I got to play a full 90 minutes in most of the games, which was huge for my development.    

I made my senior debut for the All Whites later that year, in November 2019, in a friendly against Lithuania. Even though we lost 1-0, it was a proud moment for me. Right now, my focus is on settling in at Auckland FC and helping the team win in the A-League.