Nando Pijnaker

Nando Pijnaker (born 25 February 1999) is a New Zealand professional footballer who plays as a defender for Swiss Challenge League club Grasshopper Club Zürich and the New Zealand national team.

Nando Pijnaker
Personal information
Full name Nando Pijnaker
Date of birth (1999-02-25) 25 February 1999
Place of birth Brummen, Netherlands
Height 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in)
Playing position(s) Defender
Club information
Current team
 Grasshopper Club Zürich
Number 45
Youth career
–2014 Ngongotaha
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2014 Ngongotaha
2015–2019 Western Suburbs
2018–2019 Eastern Suburbs 16 (1)
2019 Torslanda IK 14 (0)
2020– Grasshopper 2 (0)
National team‡
2019– New Zealand U-20 4 (0)
2019– New Zealand 1 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 9 August 2020
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 18 November 2019

Early life

Pijnaker was born in the Netherlands and migrated to New Zealand with his family at the age of three, settling in Rotorua. There, Pijnaker began playing with local club Ngongotaha, making his first-team debut at the age of 15.[1]

Club career

Western Suburbs

Pijnaker joined the Olé Football Academy, run by Declan Edge, and played for affiliated club Western Suburbs in the Central League that features teams from the lower half of the North Island of New Zealand.[2] Pijnaker was part of the team to win the Central League twice, in 2017 and 2019, and reach the final of the 2018 Chatham Cup.[3][4][2]

Eastern Suburbs

Through the Olé Academy partnership, Pijnaker signed for Olé affiliate Eastern Suburbs, winning the ISPS Handa Premiership and qualifying for the OFC Champions League.[5]

Torslanda IK

Following the conclusion of New Zealand's 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup campaign, Pijnaker joined his former coach Declan Edge at Division 2 Norra Götaland side Torslanda IK, a club run in partnership with the Olé Academy.[6] He made his debut on 15 June 2019, starting in a 5–0 loss to Stenungsunds IF.[7]

Grasshopper

On 29 January 2020, Pijnaker joined international teammate Max Mata at Swiss Challenge League club Grasshopper Club Zürich.[8]

International career

U-20

Pijnaker was named in the New Zealand U-20 side for the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup. Pijnaker played in all four games, playing full 90 minutes in all but one of them.[9]

National team

Pijnaker made his senior debut for New Zealand on 18 November 2019, coming on as a substitute in their 0–1 loss to Lithuania.[10]

Honours

Club

Western Suburbs

Eastern Suburbs

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References
  1. https://www.nzherald.co.nz/rotorua-daily-post/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503436&objectid=11408298
  2. Hyslop, Liam (21 September 2018). "Moulding a Kiwi Messi: Ole Football Academy's neverending football quest". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 18 November 2019.
  3. Hyslop, Liam (30 July 2017). "Western Suburbs win Central League title with two games to go". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 18 November 2019.
  4. "Western Suburbs". Ultimatenzsoccer. Retrieved 18 November 2019.
  5. Voerman, Andrew (1 April 2019). "Eastern Suburbs' national league win a showcase for youth development". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 18 November 2019.
  6. https://olefootballacademy.co.nz/the-torslanda-project-the-gothenburg-post/
  7. https://www.instagram.com/p/Byu0ob6Hfjz/
  8. https://twitter.com/ElemenTwelve/status/1222192508089839616
  9. Voerman, Andrew (3 June 2019). "Progress made as Fifa Under-20 World Cup campaign ends with heartbreak, not history". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 18 November 2019.
  10. Voerman, Andrew. "Second-string All Whites fail to seize opportunities in loss to Lithuania". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 18 November 2019.


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