Langbahn Team – Weltmeisterschaft

Dino Visser

Dino Visser
Personal information
Full name Dino Ben Visser[1]
Date of birth (1989-07-10) 10 July 1989 (age 35)[2]
Place of birth Polokwane, South Africa[3]
Height 1.89 m (6 ft 2 in)[2]
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team
Leek Town
Youth career
200?–2010 Platinum Stars
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2010–2012 Platinum Stars 1 (0)
2012–2014 Bloemfontein Celtic 0 (0)
2013–2014Black Leopards (loan) 16 (0)
2014–2016 Polokwane City 10 (0)
2016–2017 Santos 23 (0)
2017–2018 Platinum Stars 15 (0)
2018–2019 Cape Umoya United 20 (0)
2019–2020 Exeter City 0 (0)
2020 Crewe Alexandra 0 (0)
2020–2021 Port Vale 0 (0)
2022–2023 Hereford 22 (0)
2023– Leek Town 22 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 15:32, 17 May 2024 (UTC)

Dino Ben Visser (born 10 July 1989) is a South African footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Northern Premier League Premier Division club Leek Town.

He began his career with Platinum Stars in his native country, South Africa, making his Premier Soccer League debut in March 2011. Visser was touted as one of the most exciting young prospects from South Africa for some time. Visser played for Bloemfontein Celtic, Black Leopards and Polokwane City and picked up a winners medal when Bloemfontein Celtic won the 2012 Telkom Knockout. He was the regular first-team goalkeeper at Santos during the 2016–17 season. Despite this, the club were relegated out of the National First Division. He returned to the top flight with former club Platinum Stars the next season as the regular first-choice goalkeeper. He remained as such when Platinum Stars was sold and renamed to Cape Umoya United.

In June 2019, Visser decided to move to England and eventually signed a short-term deal at Exeter City. After the expiration of his deal, he left the club to instead sign a short-term deal with Crewe Alexandra in March 2020. He signed a deal with Port Vale five months later but left the club after spending the second half of the 2020–21 season out injured. He signed with Hereford in September 2022 and was released at the end of the 2022–23 season before joining Leek Town in November 2023. He helped the club to win the Northern Premier League Division One West title in the 2023–24 campaign.

Career

South Africa

Visser began his career with Platinum Stars, where head coach Steve Komphela described him and fellow youngster Allan Thomas as "good, up-and-coming young goalkeepers".[4] In 2010, Visser featured for Platinum Stars in a friendly against England, as part of their preparations for the 2010 World Cup.[5] Visser made his first-team debut under the stewardship of Owen Da Gama on 5 March 2011, keeping a clean sheet and the earning man of the match award in a 0–0 draw with SuperSport United at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium in the Premier Soccer League, with regular custodian Tapuwa Kapini suspended.[6][7] This would prove to be his only appearance for the "Dikwena" however, as he refused to sign a new three-year deal with the club and instead chose to become a free agent in the summer.[6] He moved on to Bloemfontein Celtic and was an unused substitute in the 2012 Telkom Knockout final, as Celtic beat Mamelodi Sundowns 3–0 at the Moses Mabhida Stadium.[8][9]

He was loaned out to National First Division side Black Leopards for the 2013–14 season. He played 16 games to help Kosta Papić's "Lidoda Duvha" to record a second-place finish. However, they missed out on promotion as they went on to lose to Polokwane City in the play-offs; Visser entered the game as a 31st-minute replacement for Jacob Mokhasi, with the Leopards already two goals down, and his outstanding saves were too late to sway the game.[10][11] Visser then signed with Polokwane City and started as the first choice in head coach Boebie Solomons' plans for the 2014–15 season as Botswana international Modiri Marumo was waiting on a work permit.[12] He only played 11 games for the club after falling out with the club ownership structure, who came out to deny rumours that he had been released midway through the 2015–16 season.[13]

Visser joined Santos in August 2016.[14] He played 24 games during the 2016–17 season, though the "People's Team" would be relegated down to the SAFA Second Division in last place. He rejoined Platinum Stars in August 2017, signing a two-year deal, to compete with Mwenya Chibwe, Steven Hoffman and Mbongeni Mzimela for a place in Peter Butler's starting eleven.[15] Stars finished second-bottom of the South African Premier Division and were relegated; Visser featured a total of 21 times, including playing in all the play-off matches. The Platinum Stars entity was sold and renamed Cape Umoya United, who were aiming for promotion under head coach Roger De Sá.[16] He featured 24 times in the 2018–19 campaign. However, the "Spirited Ones" could only manage a tenth-place finish.

England

Following the expiration of his Cape Umoya United contract at the end of the 2018–19 National First Division season, Visser moved to England.[17] He went on trial with Charlton Athletic in July 2019, but ultimately the "Addicks" instead opted to sign Ben Amos.[18] In October, he joined EFL League Two club Exeter City on a short-term deal, who were missing Lewis Ward with a broken arm.[18][19] Visser made his debut for the club in a 3–1 victory over West Ham United U21 at St James Park in the group stage of the EFL Trophy.[20] In the following round, Visser kept a clean sheet against League One promotion contenders Oxford United,[21] incredibly saving all three of Oxford's penalties in the ensuing penalty shoot-out[22] – a performance which earned him the tournament's 'Player of the Round' award.[23] Following on from the expiration of Visser's short-term contract and a second injury to Jonny Maxted, Visser was offered the chance to return to the "Grecians" in February; however, he rejected this,[24] and the following month joined EFL League Two rivals Crewe Alexandra and promotion favourites on a short-term deal to the end of the 2019–20 season.[25]

He signed for League Two club Port Vale on 27 August 2020 after impressing manager John Askey on trial, who hoped he would challenge established number one Scott Brown for a first-team place.[26] He made his debut against Tranmere Rovers at Vale Park on 8 September, keeping a clean sheet and then saving three penalties in the shoot-out to secure two points for the "Valiants" in the group stages of the EFL Trophy.[27] However, he was deregistered at the end of the January transfer window after he was sidelined with a hamstring injury.[28] Both Brown and Visser were released at the end of the 2020–21 season by new manager Darrell Clarke.[29]

On 23 September 2022, Visser signed for National League North club Hereford following an injury to on-loan goalkeeper Harvey Wiles-Richards.[30] He became the club's first-choice goalkeeper after Christmas.[31] He made 22 appearances in all competitions before being released by new manager Paul Caddis at the end of the 2022–23 season.[32] On 16 November 2023, after almost seven months without a club, Visser joined Northern Premier League Division One West club Leek Town.[33] Town set a club record 798 minutes without conceding a goal, with Visser playing 708 of those minutes.[34] Leek were crowned Northern Premier League Division One West champions at the end of the 2023–24 season.[35] He made 24 appearances games during the campaign, including an appearance in the Staffordshire Senior Cup final where Leek lost 1–0 to Rushall Olympic.[36]

Career statistics

As of match played 27 April 2024
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Platinum Stars 2010–11[2] South African Premier Division 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
Bloemfontein Celtic 2012–13[2] South African Premier Division 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Black Leopards (loan) 2013–14[2] National First Division 16 0 1 0 0 0 1[a] 0 18 0
Polokwane City 2014–15[2] South African Premier Division 10 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 11 0
Santos 2016–17[2] National First Division 23 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 24 0
Platinum Stars 2017–18[2] South African Premier Division 15 0 0 0 2 0 4[a] 0 21 0
Cape Umoya United 2018–19[2] National First Division 20 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 24 0
Exeter City 2019–20[37] EFL League Two 0 0 0 0 0 0 2[b] 0 2 0
Crewe Alexandra 2019–20[2] EFL League Two 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Port Vale 2020–21[38] EFL League Two 0 0 0 0 1 0 5[b] 0 6 0
Hereford 2022–23[2] National League North 22 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 22 0
Leek Town 2023–24[36] Northern Premier League
Division One West
22 0 2[c] 0 24 0
2024–25[36] Northern Premier League
Premier Division
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 22 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 24 0
Career total 129 0 6 0 4 0 14 0 153 0
  1. ^ a b Appearance/s in the play-offs.
  2. ^ a b Appearance/s in the EFL Trophy.
  3. ^ Appearance/s in the Staffordshire Senior Cup.

Honours

Bloemfontein Celtic

Leek Town

References

  1. ^ "Notification of shirt numbers: Port Vale" (PDF). English Football League. p. 54. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Dino Visser at Soccerway
  3. ^ "FootballSquads - Port Vale - 2020/2021". www.footballsquads.co.uk. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  4. ^ "Platinum Stars Complete Signing Of Ivory Coast Goalkeeper Noel Yobou | Goal.com". www.goal.com. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
  5. ^ Monaghan, Matt (7 June 2010). "England 3-0 Platinum Stars: Wayne Rooney Inspires World Cup Warm-up Victory Against Platinum Stars". Goal. Retrieved 28 December 2019.
  6. ^ a b "Platinum Stars goalkeeper Dino Visser". Kick Off. 4 March 2011. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
  7. ^ "Platinum Stars vs. SuperSport United - 5 March 2011 - Soccerway". int.soccerway.com. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
  8. ^ "Bloemfontein Celtic have officially unveiled their new signings". Kick Off. 20 July 2012. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
  9. ^ "Bloemfontein Celtic vs. Mamelodi Sundowns - 1 December 2012 - Soccerway". int.soccerway.com. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
  10. ^ "Black Leopards vs. Polokwane City - 1 June 2014 - Soccerway". int.soccerway.com. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
  11. ^ "Polokwane City stay in PSL". Sport. 1 June 2014. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
  12. ^ "AfricanFootball - News and Stats about Dino Visser - 2014 Telkom Knockout - Polokwane City". African Football. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
  13. ^ "Baptiste Faye, Dino Visser, Kgothatso Mashia still at Polokwane City". Kick Off. 8 February 2016. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
  14. ^ "Gambian Duo Joins Santos". Soccer Laduma. 25 August 2016. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
  15. ^ "Platinum Stars returnee Dino Visser eager to get going with new Absa Premiership season". Kick Off. 17 August 2017. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
  16. ^ Said, Nick (17 August 2018). "Cape Umoya coach Roger de Sa eyes immediate return to top flight football". TimesLIVE. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
  17. ^ Ngcatshe, Phumzile (17 October 2019). "Dino Visser: Former Bloemfontein Celtic keeper confirms move to Exeter City". Goal. Retrieved 27 December 2019.
  18. ^ a b James, Stuart (18 October 2019). "From facing Wayne Rooney, Michael Owen and England to a League Two promotion battle with Exeter City". Devon Live. Retrieved 27 December 2019.
  19. ^ "Dino Visser: Exeter City sign South African goalkeeper". BBC Sport. 11 October 2019. Retrieved 27 December 2019.
  20. ^ Larkins, Simon (13 November 2019). "Match report: Exeter City 3 West Ham United under-21 1". Exeter City. Retrieved 27 December 2019.
  21. ^ Clark, Daniel (4 December 2019). "Exeter City vs Oxford: Dino Visser the hero as he saves three penalty kicks". DevonLive. Retrieved 26 August 2020.
  22. ^ "EFL Trophy: Exeter's Dino Visser saves all three penalties in shootout to beat Oxford". BBC Sport. 4 December 2019. Retrieved 27 December 2019.
  23. ^ "Dino Visser named Leasing.com Trophy Player of the Round". EFL. 23 December 2019. Retrieved 27 December 2019.
  24. ^ James, Stuart (13 February 2020). "Dino Visser 'turns down' Exeter City return opportunity". devonlive. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
  25. ^ "Dino Visser Signs". CreweAlex.net. Crewe Alexandra F.C. 12 March 2020. Retrieved 12 March 2020.
  26. ^ Baggaley, Michael (27 August 2020). "Port Vale sign keeper Dino Visser". StokeonTrentLive. Retrieved 27 August 2020.
  27. ^ Baggaley, Michael (8 September 2020). "Dino Visser is Port Vale hero as they edge out Tranmere in penalty drama". StokeonTrentLive. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  28. ^ Baggaley, Michael (3 February 2021). "Striker back in as Port Vale name final 22-man squad for EFL". StokeonTrentLive. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  29. ^ "2020/21 Retained List". Port Vale F.C. 10 May 2021. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
  30. ^ "Bulls Sign Goalkeeper Dino Visser". www.herefordfc.co.uk. 23 September 2022. Retrieved 23 September 2022.
  31. ^ Lawrence, David (14 March 2023). "Homework pays dividends for Hereford FC goalkeeper Visser". Hereford Times. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
  32. ^ "Football Update Following Talks Between Current Squad And New Manager Paul Caddis". www.herefordfc.co.uk. 29 April 2023.
  33. ^ Gordon, James (16 November 2023). "Leek Town sign South African goalkeeper". The Pitching In Northern Premier League. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
  34. ^ Baggaley, Mike (5 February 2024). "What next for Port Vale after manager Andy Crosby is sacked". Valiant's Substack. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
  35. ^ a b Youlton, Clive (2 April 2024). "Unstoppable Leek Town clinch promotion as rivals hammered into submission". Stoke on Trent Live. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
  36. ^ a b c d "Leek Town | Appearances | Dino Visser". Football Web Pages. Retrieved 26 November 2023.
  37. ^ "Games played by Dino Visser in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
  38. ^ "Games played by Dino Visser in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2020.