Football: Pedigree player expected to be real asset for the Phoenix

Roly Bonevacia. Photo / Getty Images

Many at the Wellington Phoenix couldn't believe they'd been able to recruit a player of the pedigree of Roly Bonevacia to the A-League.

Having spent the previous season in the Dutch top flight with the Kerkrade-based Roda JC, Bonevacia's acquisition was an important one for the club.

"We questioned why he's come all the way over here with his CV," Wellington captain Andrew Durante said. "With 10 years at Ajax you're no mug. He's technically very good."

Phoenix coach Ernie Merrick privately wondered whether Bonevacia would arrive in the capital with off-field baggage but what they found was a 22-year-old with a wife of two years and a 15-month-old daughter who just needed a change.

Bonevacia said when he learned of the Phoenix's offer, his wife, Milou, didn't need to be convinced.

"She was happy to go, so we thought: 'Yeah, why not?'" the former Dutch youth international said.

But it wasn't all plain sailing once they'd set up camp in Wellington.

"After the first three days, I thought, 'What the hell am I doing here?" he said. "But it's the best place. The wind is not so good but everything here is perfect."

His family have adjusted since and he and his wife have taken to trying out Wellington's restaurant scene.

He also wants to improve his English, which he described as "better but not good enough", and his nerves around processing words lead him to speak with a stutter during interviews, although it should be noted he is rather polite.

Whether it's the adrenaline or not, the impediment seems to go on hold once the referee's whistle has blown on game day.

"It hasn't affected him at all on the field," Durante said. "He's actually quite vocal."

As Bonevacia's confidence with his English grew he hoped to lose the stutter, which he said didn't feature when he spoke Dutch.

Bonevacia made a slow start to his Phoenix debut during last Sunday's 2-1 loss to Perth as his touch was heavy.

But once he adjusted to the pace of the game, he looked one of the most accomplished players on the park with his accurate passing. He was also part of the movement that led to Wellington's goal.

"He gets stuck in to tackles, which is exactly what we want as well," Durante said. "So he's a fantastic asset. He's going to get better and better as the games go on."

Bonevacia also displayed a thunderous right-foot shot at Phoenix training at Newtown Park yesterday which may be on show against the Central Coast Mariners across the Tasman tomorrow.