Dublin Boon (Stellenbosch FC | South Africa)

RR

Dublin Boon signs with the Nix 🐦‍🔥

Talented goalkeeper Dublin Boon has joined the Wellington Phoenix on a one-year scholarship deal 🧤

Welcome Dublin 🙌

Dublin Boon's football journey:

▪️ Nomads United
▪️ Christchurch United
▪️ Roda JC

See your Phoenix Men LIVE from the… pic.twitter.com/BVO9nvexTP

— Wellington Phoenix 🔥 (@WgtnPhoenixFC) August 29, 2024

Was wondering when we'd see this. Nix were always on about competition in the goalkeeping department last year, specifically with Duncan pushing Paulsen to be his best and retain his spot.

Slightly different scenario this time around with not having a hell of a lot of experience between Oluwayemi, AKH, and now Boon. But with Oluwayemi being the #1, at least having AKH and Boon battling it out for the 2nd keeper spot will drive some of that competition that the club is so keen to foster. 

Can't speak much on his qualities as have only seen snippets of him in action, but if he was worth a punt for Roda JC then this is a good scholarship pick up for us. Only getting a one year scholarship indicates to me that he's got more to do to prove his worth, but I'm happy to see another Kiwi get a pro deal. 

RR

𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗟𝗟𝗜𝗘𝗦 𝗦𝗜𝗚𝗡 𝗬𝗢𝗨𝗡𝗚 𝗚𝗞 𝗕𝗢𝗢𝗡

Stellenbosch FC have signed 20 year-old New Zealand goalkeeper Dublin Boon. 🧤

Boon transfers from New Zealand A-League side Wellington Phoenix. 🇳🇿 pic.twitter.com/gYkjwV7APB

— Sahil Ebrahim (@sahil_e_) August 7, 2025

Ooh, you're quick with the work this morning my friend. 🙂

Continues the trend of having multiple Kiwis at overseas clubs too!

Good move. Really hope it goes well for him. 👏

Bloody hell that's random. But good on him. Will be nice hmfor him having ADJ to show him the ropes.

Big Uni town Stellenbosch so worst places to be as a 20 yr old. Lots of pretty Cape Dutch architecture and good wine to drink

Was it Jack Henry Sinclair that had a short stint there back when Stellies were a 2nd tier club in SA?

Stellies have 2 senior goalkeepers in their early thirties with Stevens and Oscarine. For Stellies this is a smart long term move to bring in a young talented goalkeeper to eventually replace the veterans. 

At 20 years old Boon will qualify to play for Stellies under 23 reserve league (Diski Challenge). And a real bonus of having fellow kiwi Adj to show him the ropes. 

Well done Boon's agent. 

Psl reserve (Diski Challenge) starts this weekend with Stellies fc going up against Amazulu on Sunday. 

Boon on the bench for Stellies first reserve game of the season against Amazulu

Dublin is finally given a start in goals for Stellenbosch FC against Polokwane City.
It's the 1st game since the holiday and it absolutely showed on Polokwane City boys. Shambolic performance, and second from bottom on the league table

https://supersport.com/football/dstv-diski-challenge/logs

Stellies with an easy 3-0 win

According to the highlights below he only had one save to really make, which was right at the end.

Was in Stellenbosch last week. Not a bad little town to live in. Great wine and food (cheap as well!).

Only seen it on wine tours but It seems a nice  little town in SA. About as safe as it gets In that country, I suspect.

Stellenbosch is awesome. Rich history, wine and a university town. Cheap wonderful restaurants lol

Terrible news for the Stellenbosch family as they have lost another future star way to early.

https://www.idiskitimes.co.za/dstv-diski-challenge/rip-stellies-ddc-player-passes-away/

Dublin Boons teammate Jeandre Gaffoor has passed due to drowning.

Sincere condolences to his family and the Stellenbosch football community.

RIP mate!

AucklandPhoenix

Only seen it on wine tours but It seems a nice  little town in SA. About as safe as it gets In that country, I suspect.

I've just come back from a 3 week trip covering the Cape area, Jo'burg, Natal, Pretoria and the northern national parks. I never felt unsafe.

Marto

AucklandPhoenix

Only seen it on wine tours but It seems a nice  little town in SA. About as safe as it gets In that country, I suspect.

I've just come back from a 3 week trip covering the Cape area, Jo'burg, Natal, Pretoria and the northern national parks. I never felt unsafe.

Good for you. Living in SA and being a tourist there worlds apart. Ask any Sth African of any hue. Invariably they themselves personally, or someone they know, has had a scary crime episode in the Republic.

Stellies U20 South Africa captain, was stabbed to death in 2023.

Marto - Glad you had a great time mate. Great country, "so much potential, sh*t government". But that's the same for a lot of countries around the world 😁 

Coochiee - i was speaking to somebody about Cape Town. It's the safest city in South Africa but has the most murders statistically in the country (the last time I checked). Most (about 90%) of which is in the township obviously. Far, far away from tourist areas.

Been to SA and the Mother City thrice.

1998. First time 4 Kiwi guys, and in a group felt a bit bullet proof (excuse the pun). Probably just young stupid naviety. Did see a white guy fire a hand gun at a running  black guy from the top floor of my downtown Durban back packers.

2002. 2nd time had a Saffa girl friend, and she knew all the safety behaviours to adopt that become 2nd nature to locals. Though I did a Natal-Kruger trip solo, and at the same Durban backpackers, my French dorm mate came in shaken after seeing a tourist stabbed at an ATM.

2015. Travelling solo visiting same old SA GF and her family plus travelling. Coming on dusk in Cape Town, I took a wrong turn and after about 50 metres it dawned on me I was in an unsafe (very Coloured) area, with many eyes on me. Thank fudge a taxi came along.

I've met a Chinese heritage Saffa in Aussie who showed me his bullet wounds from an attempted car jacking in Joburg. Been on an internet date in Aussie years ago with a Durban lass, who was carjacked at night taken to an ATM (made to withdraw cash) and then driven around for several terrifying hours why the two crims debated what to do with her. She tried to stay calm and make them think of their own female family members. Eventually they just stopped and let her out of the car and drove off. Got 3-4 other similar yarns I've been told.

Beautiful and yipe heaps of potential. But until you solve the massive problem of millions of young unemployed men living in poverty, many angry when they see wealthy folk of any colour (some also coming from terrible upbringings like both parents dying of HIV), Nigerian gangsters plus millions of guns freely around - well there is little hope of any real change.

Main thing mate is that Marto had a great time and didn't feel unsafe. 👍

"well there is little hope of any real change." - I don't know about that.

There have been many people over the last centuries that have said that but somehow South Africa comes back fighting. 

The political situation is changing really fast. Probably should put a Phoenix 🐦‍🔥 on the flag. Lol

Yipe agree the more tourists that go to Sth Africa and have a great time the better. Lots of tourism projects there now feed stuff back into local communities and the like.

I volunteered for a day at a school coaching sport, in Cape Town's biggest township. The black guy running it was an inspiring dude (cricket nuffy), and the young kids all loved him. Helped of course that they got out of class for an hour into the sunshine.

No PE gear just running around in their school clothes for an hour, their black shoes getting a hammering with bull rush on a concrete netball court etc.

But man without getting big numbers of the populace out of grinding poverty and into proper jobs that give them some real hope, it will be tough to make real progress.

That is wonderful  mate. Topman for volunteering your time. Greatest feeling.

That's just the thing. SA issues can be so easily solved with good governance and market friendly policies. 

Huge oil discovery off SA West Coast is just the ticket to get things going. Namibia going gang busters but oil companies won't touch SA because of corruption.

Fingers crossed for SA. Loved my time in Namibia 27 years ago. A huge piece of nothing. Surf casting for bronze whalers sharks off the Atlantic Coast! Catch and release. The guide in a beat up Land Rover and half a finger missing. Etosha Park one of Africa’s best

But it’s fair easier to be a nimble and open for business when you are small and relatively homogeneous, everyone mostly pulling in the same direction. Far trickier with a larger more complex country with lots of competing groups. Small Botswana is another rare African stable success story. Uruguay much more than oil rich Venezuela 

Apologies to Dublin Boon

Etosha is amazing 😍 

Amazingly South Africa for all its different cultures is fairly homogeneous in their political views. Its the history and poor leadership on all sides that is the issue. Case in point, is the recent resignation of the leader of the Democratic Party (SA main opposition party), John Steenhuizen. 

Turns out he only has a high school diploma and he cannot manage his personal finances correctly. The Party credit card was taken away from him. Part of the deal for him to resign as leadership of the party(DA) is for him to keep his position as the Agriculture Minister in the Government of National Unity (no party got over 50% in last year's election). 

South Africa's farmers are pissed off because his incompetent and has been slow to help with the "foot and mouth" crisis in SA. But he cannot let go of the position because of his financial position. 

Now of course the main party in SA are so, so corrupt but this side show doesn't breed confidence when there is a local elections coming up at the end of the year.

This game was played 2 weeks ago against Polokwane City. A very technical game with good players on both sides. No saves for Boon unfortunately as the Stellenbosch defence is solid.

Wonder goal from Stellenbosch in the 2nd half 46:20 into the video.

2nd half

This weekend game. Not sure if Dublin played.

Golden Arrows 2-1 Stellenbosch FC

Stellenbosch FC lost ground with the pace-setters and suffered their first defeat of the year after going down 2-1 to the in-form Golden Arrows at the Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium.

It was tied ace clear at the break, but Abafana Besthende were able to race further away from the Maroons through goals from Siphamandla Shangase and Khulekani Shezi and grabbed their third win in a row.

Orlando Pirates have won the Diski Challenge reserve League on the last game of the season. Stellenbosch finished 5th place. 

Dublin Boon did play a good percentage of the games and did well for his 1st season in SA. I will be surprised if he breaks into the 1st team as Stellies have 2 excellent goalkeepers. However you never know with football. There are opportunities at other PSL teams like Durban City (Bafana great Darren Keet has announced his retirement) and hopefully Cape Town City (potentially in the playoff for promotion). 

I'm hoping he has made an impression and can get a gig either in the PSL or 2nd division for next season. 
 

There is potentially good news for Dublin Boon at Stellenbosch as 3rd choice goalkeeper Lee Langevelt (39), is retiring. As mentioned before it's unlikely he forces his way into the 1st eleven as Stellies have 2 excellent goalkeepers. One of which got a nomination for a Puskas Award. 

Another potential good news is that Cape Town City FC has finished 2nd in the 2nd division and qualify for promotion playoffs. Yes, only the winner gets automatic promotion, which is brutal. Potentially good news for Auckland City, Nathan Garrow who has family in Cape Town and looking to make a move to South Africa. 

Other PSL clubs are in the market for goalkeepers for next season like newly promoted Kruger United FC and Chippa FC. Nigeria's no 1 goalkeeper, Stanley Nwabali, who has already left for new pastures. As mentioned previously, Bafana great Darren Keet has also retired and Durban City will need a replacement. 

Stellenbosch has given the media the list of players leaving the club. Really good news is that Dublin is not in the list but Stellenbosch 2nd and 3rd (retired) is. 

All Stellies exits below:

Oscarine Masuluke
Lee Langeveldt (retired)
Dejean Ah Shene
Thabo Moloisane
Athenkosi Mcaba
Kazie Enyinnaya
Wayde Jooste
Olisa Ndah
Khomotjo Lekoloane
Tshegofatso Mabasa (end of loan)
Kobamelo Kodisang (end of loan)
Asekho Tiwani (end of loan)
Kyle Jurgens (transfer, Durban City)

Oscarine Masuluke, who famously got a nomination for a Puskas is leaving the club. That will mean an opening in the 1st team for a young reserve goalkeeper. 

Completely missed this...

It looks like Dublin made the match day squad (unused sub) for the last game of the season against Marumo Gallants 
(23 May).

This is very promising for next season. It looks like🤞 he might be backup to Stevens next season and actually get game time. 

Is Nathan Garrow next? 

There is no better time to go to South Africa if you a goalkeeper. There at least 4 PSL teams looking to replace their goalkeepers due to retirement/end of contract/performance related issues.

Dublin Boon to Orlando Pirates?!

Wow!

https://www.idiskitimes.co.za/transfer-centre/stellies-set-for-pirates-midfielder-in-major-swap-deal/

"Meanwhile, goalkeeper Boon, who is yet to make his professional debut, is also set for Pirates – likely part of the deal. The New Zealander joined Stellies last season as a back-up goalkeeper in the DStv Diski Challenge".

Potential team up with Adj.

More news on the transfer....

Orlando Pirates are closing in on sealing the signing of Stellenbosch FC duo of goalkeeper Dublin Boon and winger Faiz Abrahams in a swap deal that could see attacking midfielder Kabelo Dlamini moving in the opposite direction.

While the Buccaneers already look fully stacked in the goalkeeping department, they have moved in for New Zealand-born Boon, who also holds South African citizenship. He spent last season with the Stellenbosch DStv Diski Challenge [DDC] side while also training with the first team.

The 21-year-old was an unused substitute during the Maroons’ final 2025/26 Betway Premiership match away at Marumo Gallants. He is set to join Pirates, who already have record-breaking Sipho Chaine (Bafana 2nd choice) Melusi Buthelezi, Siyabonga Dladla and Ethan Visagie as first-team goalkeepers.

With Stellenbosch long-serving goalkeeper Lee Langeveldt retiring and Oscarine Masuluke offloaded, the Cape Winelands side was initially reluctant to release Boon to Pirates. But FARPost understands that the acquisition of the goalkeeper and Abrahams is “almost a done deal.”

Stellenbosch regarded Boon as the future of the club between the sticks and a long-term replacement for captain Sage Stephens, who is now 35. Holding dual citizenship of South Africa and New Zealand, Boon is held in high esteem in the Cape Winelands as a potential Bafana number one goalkeeper. 

He joined Stellenbosch in August 2025 from New Zealand A-League outfit Wellington Phoenix.


https://farpost.co.za/2026/06/18/pirates-set-to-complete-deal-for-new-zealand-goalkeeper-boon/

Dublin's move to Orlando Pirates has hit a snag. The OP midfielder, Dlamini isn't keen on moving to Stellenbosch in the player swop deal.

https://www.idiskitimes.co.za/transfer-centre/new-move-for-pirates-man-hits-snag/

Money will have to talk a little bit LOUDER 😁