Noe Baba

[DannyInvincible]

Baba will be out of action for 8 weeks with an ankle injury, according to a Castlebar poster on YBIG. Allegedly, he's also suffered concussion twice in training since his move to Fulham. Tough start for the lad.

Some more info on him here: http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2892/transfer-zone/2013/01/17/3678815/fulham-complete-signing-of-wonderkid-noe-baba?source=breakingnews&ICID=HP_BN_15


Fulham have completed the signing of Cameroon-born wonderkid Noe Baba, Goal.com can reveal.

The 16-year-old prodigy has signed for the Craven Cottage club, who are waiting for international clearance from Fifa before formally announcing the deal.

Goal.com revealed in November that Baba had agreed terms on a move to west London after they had beaten a host of clubs, including Manchester United, in the race for the youngster.

Fulham have paid Castlebar Celtic in County Mayo a fee of €160,000 (£129,000) to secure Baba, who passed a medical in November and has linked up with the club’s development squad at Motspur Park.

He is Fulham’s second signing this month following 19-year-old central midfielder Chris David, who has joined from FC Twente, although neither is expected to be a serious first-team contender.

Baba was born in Cameroon but moved to Ireland with his family when he was a boy and became the first African player to captain an Irish age-group team when he led the Under-17s.

The teenager, who turned 16 last August, has progressed rapidly through the ranks and was drafted into the Republic of Ireland Under-19 squad in October, making three full appearances for Paul Doolin’s side.

He is highly regarded on both sides of the Irish Sea for his versatility and aptitude. Baba has been frequently used at centre-half but is expected to eventually be deployed as a full-back or midfield anchorman.


In our shared hometown of Castlebar, Noe is widely considered to be the best prospect ever to come through the ranks at the town's main football team, Celtic. He consistently excelled during his time with the club, often an age group or two ahead of his time. He first appeared in the Under-12s and rose rapidly through the county and international ranks.

Most recently, he represented Ireland's Under-19s - a remarkable achievement for a player featuring at a club a long way from the centre of Irish football, Dublin, and Britain, where the majority of his colleagues played. Noe has won plenty of admirers due to his voracious appetite for learning, both on the field and off, and has put a lot of thought into his future. Clubs have been tracking him for the last three or four years but he and his family have bided their time in order to wait for the opportunity which makes most sense.

[SkStu]

are people who might be in the know confident that Noe will stick with us? I certainly hope so as he sounds like the real deal.

[theworm2345]

are people who might be in the know confident that Noe will stick with us? I certainly hope so as he sounds like the real deal.
Last line
http://www.castlebar.ie/education/stpats/christmas07/magazine07/page4.html

[BonnieShels]

Last line
http://www.castlebar.ie/education/stpats/christmas07/magazine07/page4.html


"He got out and delivered the rest of the presents and went back to the North Pole very pleased with himself."

Well, It's obvious now.

[SkStu]

Last line
http://www.castlebar.ie/education/stpats/christmas07/magazine07/page4.html

well he was 11 at the time of stating that, is 16 now and has moved - probably permanently - to another country. I wouldnt hold him at the age of 21 after 5 years in London to the sentiments expressed as an 11 year old in Castlebar. It will be brilliant if he does stick with us though.

Funny stuff Bonnie. :)

[DannyInvincible]

are people who might be in the know confident that Noe will stick with us? I certainly hope so as he sounds like the real deal.

Cameroon doesn't permit dual citizenship, so it's safe to assume that if he's an Irish citizen at present, then he isn't eligible to play for Cameroon at least.

[Crosby87]

Cap him Trap! Even if he has 2 Concussions and a broken ankle. Drag him out there on a stretcher we need someone with speed.

And Danny all due respect but on a continent as corrupt as Africa, do you not think that Cameroon, in a pinch, would not work things out dual citizen ship rule or not?

[theworm2345]

well he was 11 at the time of stating that, is 16 now and has moved - probably permanently - to another country. I wouldnt hold him at the age of 21 after 5 years in London to the sentiments expressed as an 11 year old in Castlebar. It will be brilliant if he does stick with us though.

I would assume his bond would grow stronger with age, though I suppose his bond with Cameroon could increase by virtue of being away from it (same way as often times expats/first generation sometimes work extra hard to feel connected to their/their parents' homeland). Also, the Cameroon set up is a joke...makes the FAI look like a model of stability and efficiency.

[tetsujin1979]

Cameroon didn't qualify for the AFCON after being beaten by Cape Verde Islands.

[Crosby87]

They lost to Cape Verde? Yikes.
Am I crazy or did Cameroon not have a decent showing at a somewhat recent WC?

[SkStu]

Cameroon doesn't permit dual citizenship, so it's safe to assume that if he's an Irish citizen at present, then he isn't eligible to play for Cameroon at least.

Fair point. Thanks.


I would assume his bond would grow stronger with age, though I suppose his bond with Cameroon could increase by virtue of being away from it (same way as often times expats/first generation sometimes work extra hard to feel connected to their/their parents' homeland). Also, the Cameroon set up is a joke...makes the FAI look like a model of stability and efficiency.

I guess my point is that the bond wouldn't necessarily grow if he's no longer there. In fact, it might lessen?

I'm getting way too far ahead of myself anyway. He's young but has potential and hes ours and that's all that matters. :)

[DannyInvincible]

They lost to Cape Verde? Yikes.
Am I crazy or did Cameroon not have a decent showing at a somewhat recent WC?

They lost all three of their games in 2010.

[theworm2345]

Cameroon didn't qualify for the AFCON after being beaten by Cape Verde Islands.
That's just the tip of the iceberg. They have had multitudes of problems extending back much farther than that. FA's all over the world have many issues, but I've noticed Cameroon and DR Congo -- both of whom should be consistently near the top of Africa -- seem to have more than most and oftentimes their players don't want to play for them.

[paul_oshea]

well he was 11 at the time of stating that, is 16 now and has moved - probably permanently - to another country. I wouldnt hold him at the age of 21 after 5 years in London to the sentiments expressed as an 11 year old in Castlebar. It will be brilliant if he does stick with us though.

Funny stuff Bonnie. :)

What I want to know is, is he Cameroonian, or is he Irish, or is he Cameroonian-Urish or Irish Cameroonian?!

Am I the only one who worries about lads like noe and other africans or non celtic-skin Irish lads going to school and generally growing up outside of the big schmoke. I think I only have this because of growing up outside the big schomoke and what some of the other country folk are like. Having said that if there is a class of racism, the country lads wouldn't be vindictive whereas what I've found in the capital its more resentful and vindictive.

[tetsujin1979]

so you're worried about lads growing up outside Dublin, because they won't be exposed to racism, which would happen if they were in Dublin?

[paul_oshea]

No, I'm just worried about racism :D

I suppose, I didn't encounter -racism, but when I did, it was more nasty* is what I'm trying to say- it very often in Dublin. But I did encounter (a form of) "casual" racism a lot more in the country.

Again, before someone jumps in on a needless solo run, Racism is racism, but there are different forms.

[BonnieShels]

Whut?

[Charlie Darwin]

What I want to know is, is he Cameroonian, or is he Irish, or is he Cameroonian-Urish or Irish Cameroonian?!

Am I the only one who worries about lads like noe and other africans or non celtic-skin Irish lads going to school and generally growing up outside of the big schmoke. I think I only have this because of growing up outside the big schomoke and what some of the other country folk are like. Having said that if there is a class of racism, the country lads wouldn't be vindictive whereas what I've found in the capital its more resentful and vindictive.
As long as he keeps delivering presents on time he'll always be welcome in the North Pole.

[BonnieShels]

As long as he keeps delivering presents on time he'll always be welcome in the North Pole.

Exactly. Ankle injury or not.

It'll show his dedication to the Claus.

[pineapple stu]

It'll show his dedication to the Claus.
Get your coat! :mad:
http://www.swankpets.com/images/SantaOutfit.jpg

[DannyInvincible]

Exactly. Ankle injury or not.

It'll show his dedication to the Claus.

It's still a priority though that he stays fit and elfy.

[BonnieShels]

Yusssssss!!!!!!!!!!!!

[DannyInvincible]

No, I'm just worried about racism :D

I suppose, I didn't encounter -racism, but when I did, it was more nasty* is what I'm trying to say- it very often in Dublin. But I did encounter (a form of) "casual" racism a lot more in the country.

So, what you're saying then is that it's nationwide, or a Dublin phenomenon, or more just a rural phenomenon and therefore not nationwide? :confused:

[BonnieShels]

So, what you're saying then is that it's nationwide, or a Dublin phenomenon, or more just a rural phenomenon and therefore not nationwide? :confused:

Paul doesn't know what he's saying.

Sherry in the afternoon again.

[AlaskaFox]

Get your coat! :mad:

You've pulled...?

A sleigh!

[SkStu]

What I want to know is, is he Cameroonian, or is he Irish, or is he Cameroonian-Urish or Irish Cameroonian?!

I'd say he is Cameroonian-Irish and could be described equally accurately as Cameroonian or as Irish... ArdeeBhoy would describe him as Cameroonian and would scoff at anyone who dares call him Irish... (IM JOKING!!! - don't sleigh me!)

[geysir]

Paul doesn't know what he's saying.

Sherry in the afternoon again.
Smells like Buckfast.

[BonnieShels]

Doesn't it just... or did you just fill sherry bottles with bucky after raiding your parents drinks cabinet.

[Crosby87]

Remember doing that when you were 18? Just putting water back into the vodka bottle? Oh i miss those days. They used to get so ****ed.

[BonnieShels]

On the water?

Your parents are such lightweights.

[geysir]

Doesn't it just... or did you just fill sherry bottles with bucky after raiding your parents drinks cabinet.
Nah, I mean Paul smells as if he has been on Buckfast :)
And I never sank to the gutter levels of desperation that I would even consider cracking open a sherry bottle.
As Crosby says, the vodka bottle did get gradually diluted to the point of zero.

[BonnieShels]

Nah, I mean Paul smells as if he has been on Buckfast :)
And I never sank to the gutter levels of desperation that I would even consider cracking open a sherry bottle.
As Crosby says, the vodka bottle did get gradually diluted to the point of zero.

Fans of the oul homeopathy in both yer houses then.

[Crosby87]

I thought POSH drank Pimms Cup?

[BonnieShels]

Well... I think that's generally inferred under what is known as the "The Manbag Principle"

[Charlie Darwin]

Ran into this comment on reddit from an Arsenal fan.


There's a buck who got signed by Fulham called Noe Baba who has lived in Ireland for years and played for Castlebar Celtic but is of Cameroon descent. He's a bit of a wonderkid and I have friends who played against him and talk about winning 4-0 at half time then he comes on and they lost 5-4. The general consencus is though from anyone I know who has played against him is that there is no way he is as young as he's supposed to be and his birth cert is dodgy as ****. He's supposed to be only 16 and plays for Ireland u-17s but everyone reckons he's at least 19 or 20 if not more.

[passinginterest]

Ran into this comment on reddit from an Arsenal fan.

So what they're saying is he's in no way a baba?

[bawn79]

Ran into this comment on reddit from an Arsenal fan.

Regarding age of players - understand there is a test that can be done by measuring the wrist of a player. I think its good to within 9 months either side of the age it gives. It would at least put to bed that is 3-4 years older than he is meant to be.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/245622-bone-tests-to-show-soccer-players-within-age-limit

[DannyInvincible]

Just on the introduction of wrist scans for the Under-17 World Cup in 2009: http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/feb/21/nigerian-football-age-old-problem


Fifa reckon they have finally come up with a foolproof way of determining real age. Ahead of last year's Under-17 World Cup in, as it happened, Nigeria, the governing body announced that players would be subjected to wrist scans using magnetic resonance imaging, and this would determine their true age.

That led some countries to undertake precautionary scans beforehand. The results were never announced, but Nigeria suddenly discarded 15 squad members, while Gambia omitted 11 of the 18 who had helped them to victory in the African Under-17 championship a few months earlier. Reports claim that retrospective analyses of the previous three Under-17 World Cups showed more than a third of all players were too old.

Not suggesting at all that Baba might be guilty of possessing a forged birth certificate; sounds like idle speculation from a friend of a friend who was in awe of his ability when he watched his friend play against him. How would anyone, especially a stranger on an opposing team, have any idea his birth certificate is "dodgy as ****"?

[paul_oshea]

They mightn't but they would probably be able tell he was a few years older than he was playing.

[DannyInvincible]

But Fulham, the FAI and those watching him regularly have never become suspicious?

[Closed Account]

I played with his brother when he first came to Ireland. Noe came along to watch some training sessions, think he was 11 or 12 at the time, was tiny. Trained with Noe last year when he was 15, certainly didn't seem any older.
Hard to stop the rumours going round though. I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt although I'm from Castlebar so maybe a little bit bias.

[DannyInvincible]

I played with his brother when he first came to Ireland. Noe came along to watch some training sessions, think he was 11 or 12 at the time, was tiny. Trained with Noe last year when he was 15, certainly didn't seem any older.
Hard to stop the rumours going round though. I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt although I'm from Castlebar so maybe a little bit bias.

They're just ignorant rumours based on absolutely nothing but idle speculation mixed, I would suspect, with a dose of envious begrudgery and a pinch of veiled/casual racism for good measure due to his west African descent/suspicions surrounding Nigerian players.

[Charlie Darwin]

I played with his brother when he first came to Ireland. Noe came along to watch some training sessions, think he was 11 or 12 at the time, was tiny. Trained with Noe last year when he was 15, certainly didn't seem any older.
Hard to stop the rumours going round though. I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt although I'm from Castlebar so maybe a little bit bias.
This is much better anecdotal information. It's not uncommon for kids to have big growth spurts around his age, and lower nutrition levels in Africa could explain why he was small.

[Sullivinho]

'Magnetic resonance imaging'? pffft. Time to cut this lad's leg off and count the rings.

[paul_oshea]

They're just ignorant rumours based on absolutely nothing but idle speculation mixed, I would suspect, with a dose of envious begrudgery and a pinch of veiled/casual racism for good measure due to his west African descent/suspicions surrounding Nigerian players.

We were suspicious of big lads from around brigids when we were growing up too!!

Nothing to do with their racial background!!! And they were a different race as far as we were concerned!!

[tetsujin1979]

We were suspicious of big lads from around brigids when we were growing up too!!

Nothing to do with their racial background!!! And they were a different race as far as we were concerned!!
so it was something to do with their racial background?

[paul_oshea]

Same race tets, different breed!

[hoops1]

[QUOTE=DannyInvincible;1664130]They're just ignorant rumours based on absolutely nothing but idle speculation mixed, I would suspect, with a dose of envious begrudgery and a pinch of veiled/casual racism for good measure due to his west African descent/suspicions surrounding Nigerian players.[/QUOTE

Anybody that knows anything about schoolboy football in this country would tell you thats not true. But why come on and argue differently and fear being labelled a racist.

[DannyInvincible]

Anybody that knows anything about schoolboy football in this country would tell you thats not true. But why come on and argue differently and fear being labelled a racist.

What's not true? I think you've misunderstood me. I'm assuming you're referring to Ireland. I wasn't accusing anyone in Ireland of casual/veiled racism as I'm not aware of anyone in Ireland spreading defamatory rumours. I was referring to the comment from an Arsenal fan on reddit that Charlie posted in post #135 (http://foot.ie/threads/174112-Noe-Baba?p=1664058&viewfull=1#post1664058). The Arsenal fan asserted that Baba's "birth cert is dodgy as ****" without the scantest bit of evidence to suggest something is amiss. I suspect such an accusation was driven by prejudice.

[osarusan]

They're just ignorant rumours based on absolutely nothing but idle speculation mixed, I would suspect, with a dose of envious begrudgery and a pinch of veiled/casual racism for good measure due to his west African descent/suspicions surrounding Nigerian players.

Does your suggestion of casual racism come from anything stronger than the idea that he's black and they're ignorant, so it must be racism?