In his formative years he was part of New Zealand Football's National Talent Centre, but this will be his first experience of being in a national age-group squad.
"I'd like to play (in Vanuatu) a little bit, obviously, but since I'm one of the younger ones, I'd also like to learn from the older ones and enjoy the experience."
Pijnaker was invited to an U20 camp in Auckland by Bazeley during the last school holidays.
"He came to watch a few of our Central League games, he was watching the boys from the (Wellington) Phoenix academy as well," said Pijnaker. "We went to the camp and I guess from there he picked me."
Pijnaker first went to Wellington a few days short of his 16th birthday.
"It was way different when I first got here. I wasn't sure about coming here. It was pretty far from home and I wouldn't be seeing my family so much, but as soon as I got more comfortable I was really happy and I really enjoy it now."
He said the coaching was more intense than the coaching he has had in the past.
"They make you work harder and you improve much faster with playing every Saturday and training six times a week. There are lots of good players here that you get to play with, so when you train with good players, you improve and better yourself which is really good."
While he has now made it into a national representative squad, Pijnaker is realistic enough not to expect that to automatically translate into full national honours.
"I'll just keep training and keep working hard and see what happens."
His father Rene said one of the advantages of being at the Ole Academy is that he was being coached not only in the physical side of the game, but also the mental side.
"And all the training is balanced because (the coaches) are from one academy. That's a big difference from when he was here."
While Rotorua based, he was playing and training under different coaches and in different parts of the Bay of Plenty.
Pijnaker senior said going to the academy was his son's wish.
"It was the best step we made because he has flourished and is growing. But I have said to him, 'you still have to stay with two feet on the ground'. I think he's very humble and, of course, very pleased. He's the the only one from the Ole Academy (in the U20 squad).
"A lot is happening in his life. He has got everything in front of him, his attitude is right and we will see. He takes things step by step by step and he knows he still has to work hard and that's the attitude that's brought him to where he is."
Pijnaker junior was the first Year 9 student to run out for the Western Heights High School 1st XI and was selected for the Ngongotaha AFC senior side when he was just 15.
