Dino Visser
{{short description|South African footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Dino Visser
| image =
| caption =
| fullname = Dino Ben Visser{{cite web |url=https://www.efl.com/siteassets/efl-documents/202021/efl-squad-numbering-11.09.2020.pdf |title=Notification of shirt numbers: Port Vale |publisher=English Football League |page=54 |accessdate=24 September 2020}}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1989|7|10|df=y}}
| birth_place = Polokwane, South Africa{{cite web |title=FootballSquads - Port Vale - 2020/2021 |url=http://www.footballsquads.co.uk/eng/2020-2021/fltwo/portv.htm |website=www.footballsquads.co.uk |access-date=1 February 2021}}
| position = Goalkeeper
| currentclub = Leek Town
| youthyears1 = 200?–2010
| youthclubs1 = Platinum Stars
| years1 = 2010–2012
| clubs1 = Platinum Stars
| caps1 = 1
| goals1 = 0
| years2 = 2012–2014
| clubs2 = Bloemfontein Celtic
| caps2 = 0
| goals2 = 0
| years3 = 2013–2014
| clubs3 = → Black Leopards (loan)
| caps3 = 16
| goals3 = 0
| years4 = 2014–2016
| clubs4 = Polokwane City
| caps4 = 10
| goals4 = 0
| years5 = 2016–2017
| clubs5 = Santos
| caps5 = 23
| goals5 = 0
| years6 = 2017–2018
| clubs6 = Platinum Stars
| caps6 = 15
| goals6 = 0
| years7 = 2018–2019
| clubs7 = Cape Umoya United
| caps7 = 20
| goals7 = 0
| years8 = 2019–2020
| clubs8 = Exeter City
| caps8 = 0
| goals8 = 0
| years9 = 2020
| clubs9 = Crewe Alexandra
| caps9 = 0
| goals9 = 0
| years10 = 2020–2021
| clubs10 = Port Vale
| caps10 = 0
| goals10 = 0
| years11 = 2022–2023
| clubs11 = Hereford
| caps11 = 22
| goals11 = 0
| years12 = 2023–
| clubs12 = Leek Town
| caps12 = 22
| goals12 = 0
| club-update = 15:32, 17 May 2024 (UTC)
}}
Dino Ben Visser (born 10 July 1989) is a South African footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for {{English football updater|LeekTown}} 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".{{cite web |title=Platinum Stars Complete Signing Of Ivory Coast Goalkeeper Noel Yobou {{!}} Goal.com |url=https://www.goal.com/en/news/1659/south-africa/2009/12/09/1676108/platinum-stars-complete-signing-of-ivory-coast-goalkeeper |website=www.goal.com |accessdate=21 July 2020}} In 2010, Visser featured for Platinum Stars in a friendly against England, as part of their preparations for the 2010 World Cup.{{cite web |url=https://www.goal.com/en/news/1863/world-cup-2010/2010/06/07/1963580/england-3-0-platinum-stars-wayne-rooney-inspires-world-cup |title=England 3-0 Platinum Stars: Wayne Rooney Inspires World Cup Warm-up Victory Against Platinum Stars |first=Matt |last=Monaghan |date=7 June 2010 |website=Goal |accessdate=28 December 2019}} 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.{{cite news |title=Platinum Stars goalkeeper Dino Visser |url=https://www.kickoff.com/news/articles/south-africa-news/categories/news/news/platinum-stars-goalkeeper-dino-visser/529803 |accessdate=21 July 2020 |work=Kick Off |date=4 March 2011}}{{cite web |title=Platinum Stars vs. SuperSport United - 5 March 2011 - Soccerway |url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2011/03/05/south-africa/psl/platinum-stars/supersport-united/979098/ |website=int.soccerway.com |accessdate=21 July 2020}} 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. 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.{{cite news |title=Bloemfontein Celtic have officially unveiled their new signings |url=https://www.kickoff.com/news/articles/local/categories/news/bloemfontein-celtic-have-officially-unveiled-their-new-signings/538584?next=true |accessdate=21 July 2020 |work=Kick Off |date=20 July 2012}}{{cite web |title=Bloemfontein Celtic vs. Mamelodi Sundowns - 1 December 2012 - Soccerway |url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2012/12/01/south-africa/league-cup/bloemfontein-celtic/mamelodi-sundowns/1413710/ |website=int.soccerway.com |accessdate=21 July 2020}}
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.{{cite web |title=Black Leopards vs. Polokwane City - 1 June 2014 - Soccerway |url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2014/06/01/south-africa/playoffs-12/black-leopards-fc/bay-united/1680899/ |website=int.soccerway.com |accessdate=21 July 2020}}{{cite news |title=Polokwane City stay in PSL |url=https://www.news24.com/Sport/Polokwane-City-stay-in-PSL-20140601 |accessdate=21 July 2020 |work=Sport |date=1 June 2014 |language=en}} 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.{{cite web |title=AfricanFootball - News and Stats about Dino Visser - 2014 Telkom Knockout - Polokwane City |url=https://africanfootball.com/player/3701/Dino-Visser/988/Polokwane-City/255/2014-Telkom-Knockout/ |website=African Football |accessdate=21 July 2020}} 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.{{cite news |title=Baptiste Faye, Dino Visser, Kgothatso Mashia still at Polokwane City |url=https://www.kickoff.com/news/articles/south-africa-news/categories/news/premiership/baptiste-faye-dino-visser-kgothatso-mashia-still-at-polokwane-city/566271 |accessdate=21 July 2020 |work=Kick Off |date=8 February 2016}}
Visser joined Santos in August 2016.{{cite news |title=Gambian Duo Joins Santos |url=https://www.soccerladuma.co.za/news/articles/categories/south-africa/gambian-duo-joins-santos/235813 |accessdate=21 July 2020 |work=Soccer Laduma |date=25 August 2016}} 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.{{cite news |title=Platinum Stars returnee Dino Visser eager to get going with new Absa Premiership season |url=https://www.kickoff.com/news/articles/south-africa-news/categories/news/premiership/platinum-stars-returnee-dino-visser-eager-to-get-going-with-new-absa-premiership-season/581654 |accessdate=21 July 2020 |work=Kick Off |date=17 August 2017}} 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.{{cite news |last1=Said |first1=Nick |title=Cape Umoya coach Roger de Sa eyes immediate return to top flight football |url=https://www.timeslive.co.za/sport/soccer/2018-08-17-cape-umoya-coach-roger-de-sa-eyes-immediate-return-to-top-flight-football/ |accessdate=21 July 2020 |work=TimesLIVE |date=17 August 2018 |language=en-ZA}} 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.{{cite web |url=https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/dino-visser-former-bloemfontein-celtic-goalkeeper-confirms/1n3zfhs1tfzv31xjnwxkkjkh4p |title=Dino Visser: Former Bloemfontein Celtic keeper confirms move to Exeter City |first=Phumzile |last=Ngcatshe |date=17 October 2019 |website=Goal |accessdate=27 December 2019}} He went on trial with Charlton Athletic in July 2019, but ultimately the "Addicks" instead opted to sign Ben Amos.{{cite web |url=https://www.devonlive.com/sport/football/rooney-owen-england-dino-visser-3440670 |title=From facing Wayne Rooney, Michael Owen and England to a League Two promotion battle with Exeter City |first=Stuart |last=James |date=18 October 2019 |website=Devon Live |accessdate=27 December 2019}} In October, he joined EFL League Two club Exeter City on a short-term deal, who were missing Lewis Ward with a broken arm.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/50012693 |title=Dino Visser: Exeter City sign South African goalkeeper |date=11 October 2019 |website=BBC Sport |accessdate=27 December 2019}} 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.{{cite web |url=https://www.exetercityfc.co.uk/news/2019/november/match-report-for-exeter-city-vs-west-ham-united-u21-on-13-nov-19/ |title=Match report: Exeter City 3 West Ham United under-21 1 |first=Simon |last=Larkins |date=13 November 2019 |website=Exeter City |accessdate=27 December 2019}} In the following round, Visser kept a clean sheet against League One promotion contenders Oxford United,{{Cite web|last=Clark|first=Daniel|date=2019-12-04|title=Exeter City vs Oxford: Dino Visser the hero as he saves three penalty kicks|url=https://www.devonlive.com/sport/football/football-news/exeter-city-vs-oxford-united-3609882|access-date=26 August 2020|website=DevonLive}} incredibly saving all three of Oxford's penalties in the ensuing penalty shoot-out{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/50663047 |title=EFL Trophy: Exeter's Dino Visser saves all three penalties in shootout to beat Oxford |date=4 December 2019 |website=BBC Sport |accessdate=27 December 2019}} – a performance which earned him the tournament's 'Player of the Round' award.{{cite web |url=https://www.efl.com/news/2019/december/dino-visser-named-leasing.com-trophy-player-of-the-round/ |title=Dino Visser named Leasing.com Trophy Player of the Round |date=23 December 2019 |website=EFL |accessdate=27 December 2019}} 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,{{cite news |last1=James |first1=Stuart |title=Dino Visser 'turns down' Exeter City return opportunity |url=https://www.devonlive.com/sport/dino-visser-turns-down-exeter-3844989 |accessdate=21 July 2020 |work=devonlive |date=13 February 2020}} 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.{{cite web |title=Dino Visser Signs |url=https://www.crewealex.net/news/2020/march/dino-visser-signs/ |website=CreweAlex.net |publisher=Crewe Alexandra F.C.|date=12 March 2020 |accessdate=12 March 2020}}
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.{{cite news |last1=Baggaley |first1=Michael |title=Port Vale sign keeper Dino Visser |url=https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/port-vale-sign-keeper-dino-4461615 |accessdate=27 August 2020 |work=StokeonTrentLive |date=27 August 2020}} 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.{{cite news |last1=Baggaley |first1=Michael |title=Dino Visser is Port Vale hero as they edge out Tranmere in penalty drama |url=https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/dino-visser-port-vale-hero-4497307 |accessdate=8 September 2020 |work=StokeonTrentLive |date=8 September 2020}} However, he was deregistered at the end of the January transfer window after he was sidelined with a hamstring injury.{{cite news |last1=Baggaley |first1=Michael |title=Striker back in as Port Vale name final 22-man squad for EFL |url=https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/striker-back-port-vale-name-4960939 |access-date=3 February 2021 |work=StokeonTrentLive |date=3 February 2021 |language=en}} Both Brown and Visser were released at the end of the 2020–21 season by new manager Darrell Clarke.{{cite news |title=2020/21 Retained List |url=https://www.port-vale.co.uk/news/2021/may/202021-retained-list/ |access-date=10 May 2021 |work = Port Vale F.C. |date=10 May 2021 |language=en-gb}}
On 23 September 2022, Visser signed for National League North club Hereford following an injury to on-loan goalkeeper Harvey Wiles-Richards.{{cite news |title=Bulls Sign Goalkeeper Dino Visser |url=https://www.herefordfc.co.uk/news-bulls-sign-goalkeeper-dino-visser/ |access-date=23 September 2022 |work=www.herefordfc.co.uk |date=23 September 2022 |language=en}} He became the club's first-choice goalkeeper after Christmas.{{cite news |last1=Lawrence |first1=David |title=Homework pays dividends for Hereford FC goalkeeper Visser |url=https://www.herefordtimes.com/sport/23385088.homework-pays-dividends-hereford-fc-goalkeeper-visser/ |access-date=30 April 2023 |work=Hereford Times |date=14 March 2023 |language=en}} He made 22 appearances in all competitions before being released by new manager Paul Caddis at the end of the 2022–23 season.{{cite news|title= Football Update Following Talks Between Current Squad And New Manager Paul Caddis|url= https://www.herefordfc.co.uk/football-update-following-talks-between-current-squad-and-new-manager-paul-caddis/|work=www.herefordfc.co.uk |date=29 April 2023|language=en}} On 16 November 2023, after almost seven months without a club, Visser joined Northern Premier League Division One West club Leek Town.{{Cite web |last=Gordon |first=James |date=2023-11-16 |title=Leek Town sign South African goalkeeper |url=https://www.thenpl.co.uk/leek-town-sign-south-african-goalkeeper-79067 |access-date=2023-11-17 |website=The Pitching In Northern Premier League |language=en}} Town set a club record 798 minutes without conceding a goal, with Visser playing 708 of those minutes.{{cite news |last1=Baggaley |first1=Mike |title=What next for Port Vale after manager Andy Crosby is sacked |url=https://portvalethevaliant.substack.com/p/what-next-for-port-vale-after-manager |access-date=5 February 2024 |work=Valiant's Substack |date=5 February 2024}} Leek were crowned Northern Premier League Division One West champions at the end of the 2023–24 season.{{cite news |last1=Youlton |first1=Clive |title=Unstoppable Leek Town clinch promotion as rivals hammered into submission |url=https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/leek-town-promotion-josh-brehaut-9200857 |access-date=4 April 2024 |work=Stoke on Trent Live |date=2 April 2024 |language=en}} 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.
Career statistics
{{updated|match played 27 April 2024}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition | ||||||||||
| rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|National Cup !colspan="2"|League Cup !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Platinum Stars
|2010–11{{Soccerway|dino-visser/149224}} |South African Premier Division |1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| Bloemfontein Celtic
|South African Premier Division |0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Black Leopards (loan)
|16 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1{{efn|name=pof|Appearance/s in the play-offs.}} | 0 | 18 | 0 | |
| Polokwane City
|South African Premier Division |10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0 | |
| Santos
|National First Division |23 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 0 | |
| Platinum Stars
|South African Premier Division |15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4{{efn|name=pof}} | 0 | 21 | 0 | |
| Cape Umoya United
|National First Division |20 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 0 | |
| Exeter City
|2019–20{{soccerbase season|125849|2019|accessdate=1 January 2020}} |0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2{{efn|name=EFL|Appearance/s in the EFL Trophy.}} | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| Crewe Alexandra
|EFL League Two |0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Port Vale
|2020–21{{soccerbase season|125849|2020|accessdate=1 January 2020}} |EFL League Two |0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5{{efn|name=EFL}} | 0 | 6 | 0 | |
| Hereford
|22 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 0 | |
| rowspan=3|Leek Town
|2023–24{{Cite web |title=Leek Town {{!}} Appearances {{!}} Dino Visser |url=https://www.footballwebpages.co.uk/leek-town/appearances/dino-visser/957697 |access-date=2023-11-26 |website=Football Web Pages}} |Northern Premier League |22 | 0 | colspan="2" |— | colspan="2" |— | 2{{efn|name=ssc|Appearance/s in the Staffordshire Senior Cup.}} | 0 | 24 | 0 | |||
| 2024–25
|Northern Premier League |0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| colspan="2"|Total
!22 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 24 | 0 | |
| colspan="3"|Career total
!129 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 153 | 0 |
{{notelist}}
Honours
Bloemfontein Celtic
Leek Town
- Northern Premier League Division One West: 2023–24
- Staffordshire Senior Cup runner-up: 2024
References
{{Reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Visser, Dino}}
Category:Soccer players from Polokwane
Category:South African men's soccer players
Category:Men's association football goalkeepers
Category:Platinum Stars F.C. players
Category:Bloemfontein Celtic F.C. players
Category:Black Leopards F.C. players
Category:Polokwane City F.C. players
Category:Santos F.C. (South Africa) players
Category:Cape Umoya United F.C. players
Category:Exeter City F.C. players
Category:Crewe Alexandra F.C. players
Category:Port Vale F.C. players
Category:Hereford F.C. players
Category:Leek Town F.C. players
Category:South African Premier Division players
Category:National First Division players
Category:National League (English football) players
Category:Northern Premier League players
Category:South African expatriate men's soccer players
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in England