'If you saw Luis Suarez in training, he wouldn’t do a lot. But in a game, he went 2,000 per cent'

Bonevacia’s journey has been diametrically opposed to luminaries, such as, Marco van Basten and Patrick Kluivert. The vast majority of his senior appearances were recorded thousands of kilometres away from the exalted Sportpark De Toekomst; in the A-League with Wellington Phoenix and Western Sydney Wanderers, plus the Saudi Professional League at Al Faisaly.

He has learned, however, that the holistic message of totaalvoetbal [Total Football], injected into Ajax’s DNA by Mancunian Jack Reynolds a century ago is universal.

“It’s the best school in the world for most players,” Bonevacia tells Sport360. “Most players that play there [Ajax] have professional careers.

“It is a great school for technique, the basics of football. They teach you a lot.

“You play there at the time and you think it’s all the same in the rest of the world. But once you leave and you experience different parts of the world, you realise it’s been amazing to play there as a youth player and first-team player.

“The standard is so much higher than you think.”

Ajax’s imprint on the multi-faceted Bonevacia is unquestionable.

The Curacao international was, ostensibly, hired as a sitting midfielder alongside Trinidad and Tobago’s Khaleem Hyland at Faisaly. They were on course for fourth place in the Saudi Professional League, before spring’s unexpected stoppage because of COVID-19 and, what he describes as, “minor problems” about a contract renewal sparked last month’s switch to Fujairah.

His heat map from Wyscout in the Kingdom, however, showcased an all-rounder.

An impressive seven goals and seven assists from 23 top-flight run-outs were also recorded at WSW in 2018/19 when pushed up into attacking midfield by Markus Babbel.

This is the living embodiment of the versatility expected from Ajax graduates.

Bonevacia joined them as a child in 2001. He left, permanently, for Roda JC seven years ago as a honed Netherlands youth cap and maker of one, hallowed, Eredivisie appearance for Ajax – an opening-day 4-2 victory against Vitesse Arnhem in August 2010 under Martin Jol.

A rarefied dressing room was shared with figures who’d go on to help shape the next decade in European football. Belgium defenders Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld were there, so, too, the home-grown Daley Blind.

The greatest impression was left by imports from South America and Scandinavia.

“I played with some big names,” Bonevacia recalls. “Several memories I like, things you can learn from and certain players you don’t see their qualities at first, but once you play with them you see how good and smart they are.

“If you saw [Luis] Suarez in training, he wouldn’t do a lot. But in a game, he was amazing, like a proper fighter.

“He went 2,000 per cent for the team.

“[With Christian Eriksen] We played together for a few years. The way he reads the game and sees it is outstanding.

“For example, when the ball is on the left he’ll stand all the way out on the right. Players are like ‘why is he standing there, he’s not involved in the game?’

“But every time, where he stands is where the ball comes. It is crazy.

“His first touch is, by far, one of the best.”

Regrets would be natural about the circuitous manner in which his playing days advanced. Envy, even, excusable.

Yet, Bonevacia sees every occurrence in a formative light.

He says: “To be honest, I did not see my career in the way it went down. Of course, you are in the first team and you think from there, I’ll go to a big club.

“I played for the biggest club [in the Netherlands], so you think clubs will see you easily. But my career went half good and half/half…

“People say New Zealand, Australia are not so good. But to be fair, it made me into the player I am today.

“In Holland, you learn to play with the ball and you have it a lot.

“But in Australia, you need to fight and become a man. My skills are there, but in Holland you lack the fighting part of the game.

“It helped me quite a lot.”

Bonevacia found himself among a galaxy of stars when he ended five years Down Under and arrived in the Kingdom, during May 2019.

He played an influential role as Faisaly set course for debut AFC Champions League qualification. But in his absence after a six-month hiatus ended in August, they’d slip down to a frustrating fifth – one point and one place from, probable, entry.

Ex-France centre forward Bafetimbi Gomis, Australia goalkeeper Brad Jones, 2019’s global top scorer Abderrazak Hamdallah and Morocco flyer Nordin Amrabat were some of the stellar names he competed against. But a pair of elite attackers at eventual champions Al Hilal stood out.

He says: “Players who were the best, by far, were [Sebastian] Giovinco and [Andre] Carrillo.

“Giovinco is very tiny, very small. He is not strong, but the way he plays you cannot get near him.

“The players who are not so good take two or three touches – he takes one. You cannot get near him.

“Carrillo has a mix of strength and speed. He’s just so powerful in everything he does.”

Enlivening change is also afoot in the international arena.

Curacao – for whom Netherlands-born Bonevacia made his bow during last summer’s King’s Cup triumph in Thailand – garnered international headlines in August when Guus Hiddink signed on to become their latest head coach.

The 73-year-old’s illustrious managerial career has included winning the 1987/88 European Cup with PSV Eindhoven, inspiring co-hosts South Korea to, miraculously, reach the 2002 World Cup’s semi-finals, qualified Australia to their first World Cup four years later and claiming the 2008/09 FA Cup when caretaker at Chelsea. A valedictory challenge now awaits – to lead this Caribbean island nation to 2022’s global event.

“For him and me, it is great,” Bonevacia says on the vaunted appointment. “He is a big name, a big coach.

“He will help attract quite a few fans, as well. It is great for us, Curacao.

“I have seen his achievements and they are amazing. When I played in Australia, I saw how big he was there.

“Everything he achieved there was beyond amazing for Australia. I am really looking forward to work with him, that’s for sure.”

A, belated, return to competitive action looms.

Fujairah’s opening Arabian Gulf Cup clash against Ajman on September 3 was called off 24-hours prior when the UAE Football Association announced 2020/21’s postponement “until next October”. A new date for next Thursday was announced in midweek, with the AGL opener versus Sharjah following on October 16.

The Wolves found themselves bottom before the pause, winning one of their last 16 top-fight fixtures. An avoidance of this, delayed, fate is this term’s major requirement, anything else being a bonus.

An unexpectedly prolonged series of friendlies against opposition drawn from the AGL and First Division League has been undertaken, overseen by ex-Kuwait boss Goran Tufegdzic after high-profile missteps with Diego Maradona and Madjid Bougherra.

Bonevacia is a long way from Amsterdam. But he wouldn’t be anywhere else.

He says: “The move to Fujairah was quick and slow, at the same time. We talked with the club for awhile and the coach called me just a few weeks before.

“I had a few other clubs interested, in Turkey as well. I was still in town [Fujairah] and my wife convinced me to just do the deal there, then try to make the best of it.

“It was not nice to not go back [to Al Faisaly], because we built so much. I worked hard to be there, but, unfortunately, some minor problems occurred and I decided not to go back.”

He adds: “I haven’t played a game for more than six months.

“I can’t wait to start the league. I am with a club that haven’t been great for the last few years.

“But with the team we’ve got now, I think we can do quite well. The coach knows the quality of the team, so he will do well.

“In terms of our strengths, the coach and the players know each other well.”