By Scott Ferguson
scott@canucks-abroad.com

Brandon Bonifacio took time out from his busy schedule with SC Cambuur in the Dutch Eerste Divise to talk to Canucks-Abroad about life as a young Canadian in the Netherlands and his visions of one day starring for an MLS Vancouver Whitecaps.

Canucks-Abroad: Thanks for joining us. So how did you end up at SC Cambuur in Holland, and how's the current season going?

Brandon Bonifacio: How I ended up at Cambuur is something of a long story. I came over (to Holland) when I was about 16 and trained with FC Groningen with two of the other local boys, Marcus Haber and Robbie Giezen, who are at Groningen now. We trained with their U-19’s for about two weeks and it was a great experience for us as young players. Groningen asked for us to come back the next year, so we came back with our Vancouver Selects local team (5 of us are now playing professionally and a couple others could have had a shot at a career in football). We played some matches, first in Italy, and then ended our trip in Holland with a couple of games.

I had contact with SC Cambuur and they asked me to come back for a trial. I came back that May, and they offered me a contract after the first day, so I decided that I would play here. Although the club is not in the Eredivise, it is a large club for the Eerste Divisie and I knew I would be getting first team football sooner than if I was at a bigger club. I ended up making my debut at the end of my first season at Cambuur, which progressed very quickly from starting with the U-19’s to playing with the first team at the end of the year. The current season is a bit dismal in terms of the results with us hovering in the lower half of the table, and there are no excuses for this sort of club to be so low in the table, but we have had a couple of key injuries which have affected our performances. For myself, the year has been good for me professionally, having started ten games and come off the bench in one. Unfortunately, I just had a calf injury which put me out for the last month and a bit, but I am back to playing now. Hopefully the rest of the season goes well for the club and myself and we work on next year.

CA: There's more Canadians playing in Holland than ever, including a group of four at Groningen. Does it help having other Canadians around to offer support?

BB: It is definitely a major plus that Leeuwarden (Cambuur's home) and Groningen are quite close. Three of the Canadian players at Groningen are great friends who I have known for a while, as we have been playing football together since we were kids. We talk almost every day on the phone or MSN Messenger and it is nice having other kids your age who all have the same goal. I’ve had my car since January and one of the boys in Groningen has a car as well, which makes it easier to see each other. We try and go out for dinner and just hang out together which is a major plus.

CA:Were you in touch with the Canadian under-20 coaching staff ahead of the Youth World Cup last summer? Was it a disappointment not to be included in the final squad?

BB: I was in touch with the U-20 coaching staff. I went to one camp in Belgium a month of two after I came over to Holland in 2006. One of the older players got injured and I got contacted later and arrived the day that training begun. I had a solid camp and was involved with the 2nd game against Belgium. It was a great experience for me as a younger player, and I thought that the camp went well overall. I expected to be included in another camp, which ended up being the week before Christmas down in the U.S. I joined up with the rest of the players, and although I should have been at top fitness and form during this camp, I didn’t feel great with jet lag and my body was definitely burnt out after my first 6 months in Holland. After the camp, I knew that it wasn’t the best week of football I’ve had in a while, and I figured that I would either be considered one more time for a camp or that this had been my last chance for this U-20 cycle. Unfortunately, that was the last time I would feature, but as a player I can judge myself and I let that opportunity slip with my week in America. It was definitely a disappointment, but now I have a strong desire to be included in the upcoming U-20 World Cup (Egypt 2009) preparations and get some results for Canada.

11-A-SIDE:
1. Obviously, living and working abroad can be a big transition for anyone, especially a teenager. Are there any tips you'd offer to young players looking to make it in Europe?

BB: It is definitely a HUGE step to go overseas, but it all comes down to how the person is mentally. Everything really depends on the player and their personality. I would say to young players, try and find a club that will help you and watch over you. Find a place where they actually know your name and you are not just another one of the hundreds of youth players in their system. But really, it just depends on the player and if they can deal with living alone, cooking, cleaning and living without family and friends. It’s tough, but you have to try and make it your new life here. Try and stay busy so you don’t get to think about things like how you miss home. Just stay focused on your goal.

2. Favourite player?
BB: Always loved Francesco Totti, but Cesc Fabregas is taking over.

3. Favourite football club?
BB: AC Milan

4. Favourite car?
BB: Lamborghini Murciélago

5. Favourite film?
BB: Friday Night Lights or Goodfellas (couldn’t decide!)

6. Coke or Pepsi?
BB: Doesn’t matter. Not a huge pop drinker.

7. Playstation3 or Xbox?
BB: Xbox

8. Will you be cheering on Holland at the Euros this summer?
BB: I think I will be cheering against Holland. My mother was born in Croatia and my father is Italian, so naturally, those are the two countries I will support.

9. Imagine its 2012, Montreal Impact and Vancouver Whitecaps have joined TFC in Major League Soccer. Which of the three do you support?
BB: I definitely support Vancouver Whitecaps. That’s where I come from, and hopefully one day I can suit up for them in MLS.

10. Do you see yourself playing in North America again, maybe at the tail end of your career?
BB: I could definitely see myself playing in MLS. It would be great as I can already see that the league is getting much better and people are taking it very seriously. Hopefully I will be good enough at the end of my career to crack an MLS roster!

11. And finally, where do you see yourself professionally in five years?
BB: In five years I see myself in one of the top leagues in Europe.

Editor: Thanks to Brandon for talking to CA. His development at Cambuur has been very promising, despite a shaky start - coming on as a second half substitute, he was dismissed after just 15 minutes. We've even attached the photographic evidence (source: unknown).

All at CA hope that he and his team finish strongly at set themselves up for a serious promotion campaign next text. If they do, you can expect Brandon to be in and around the U20 squad just as he hopes.

Bonifacio Debut Red: Source: Unknown