Mayo FC captain looking forward to inaugural National League season
The inaugural Men’s National League season will kick-off tomorrow with Mayo FC having the luxury of a home tie in their opening Group 2 fixture against St. Francis. This fixture at Umbro Park Milebush will kick-off at 5 p.m.
One of Mayo FC’s most eye-catching signings during pre-season was the acquisition of Castlebar native and one of Mayo’s most celebrated footballers, Noe Baba.
Noe, aged 30, is a versatile defender and can also play a central midfield role if required and was appointed Mayo FC captain for the National League season.
Noe started off his career with Castlebar Celtic before moving to England where he joined the academies of Fulham FC, and subsequently Birmingham City. He then joined Macclesfield Town where he made several appearances during the 2017/18 season.
The Castlebar native also played in the German leagues fourth tier and enjoyed successful spells in the League of Ireland with Waterford United, Finn Harps, and Athlone Town.
Noah also played for the Republic of Ireland youth teams from under-15 through to under-21 level and he also had the honour of captaining the Republic of Ireland under-17 team.
Noe Baba said it will be a proud occasion to lead out Mayo FC in what will be an historic occasion for football in the county. “It will be a great occasion for the team, the county, the players and supporters, and this is a new project for us all. I spent most of my childhood in Mayo and it is a very proud moment for me to be captain of Mayo FC and to lead out the team tomorrow against St. Francis at Umbro Park Milebush.
“I think I am looking forward to this moment more than my family and friends! I played football in Mayo and then in the UK and in Europe. When you are abroad you are away from your family and friends and people that you grew up with. Now, my career has gone full circle, and I am back home and will play in front of the Mayo supporters. Mayo gave me so much joy when I was younger and this is truly a special moment in my career.”
Baba paid tribute to the men’s manager and staff at Mayo FC.
“Great credit must go to our manager, Anthony O’Neill. He has assembled a strong squad and hopefully we can be positive throughout the season. Our four-pre-season games saw a constant progression of the team and that shows that the players are buying into what the manager wants to do. Credit must also go to the staff behind the scenes as well and they have also played a part in making sure that the group bonds and gels together as a team.”
As for targets for the season, Baba wants the team to be the best that they can be.
“So far it has been straightforward, and we are taking it training session by training session, and game by game. You do place expectations on yourself, and while we have not put undue pressure on ourselves to deliver, we are working hard to ensure that we can produce the best season that we possibly can. We will take it game by game and it is a new league and a new project. Our target as players, is to do the best that we can for this season and also into the 2027 season as well.”
Baba hopes that the Mayo FC supporters will get behind the team this season and that the players will feed off that support.
“Our message is very simple, come along and support us and we will do our very best for the supporters on the pitch. We will take great pride in the club crest and will be battling in every game and the more support we get the better it will be for all of us.”