Joseph Ndo joins Achill Rovers

Achill Rovers may have pulled off one of the signings of the year with former Cameroon International and Sligo Rovers star Joseph Ndo poised to join their coaching staff.

The two-time African Cup of Nations winner joined the Achill Rovers squad for pre-season training in Fr O’Brien Park on Sunday afternoon.

The 38-year-old, who retired from professional football last season after a decade playing in the League of Ireland, is currently pursuing his UEFA ‘A’ Licence and has teamed up with Achill Rovers to complete his coaching badges.

Achill Rovers chairman Seán Molloy said Ndo had initially agreed to take two sessions, but the Cameroon international was so impressed by the club’s surroundings that he is expected to agree to coach the club throughout the season.

“This is a fantastic coup for the club to get one of the finest footballers to play in the League of Ireland in the last ten years to agree to coach the club,” he told The Mayo News.

“He came down on Sunday and I was really impressed by his coaching methods and the way he dealt with the players. It was an awful day but the session was intense and he was very positive.”

Ndo made 21 appearances for the Indomitable Lions, scoring two goals between 1998 and 2002. He played in the 1998 World Cup in France and was also in the squad for the 2002 World Cup in Japan/South Korea. He also won the African Cup of Nations in 1998 and 2002, playing alongside the likes of Samuel Eto’o, Geremi and Lauren.

He played his early club football in Switzerland and France, winning the French Cup with Strasbourg in 2001 before moving to clubs in the Middle East.

In 2003, he joined St Patrick’s Athletic before signing for Dublin rivals Shelbourne a year later, helping them to two league titles.

Voted the PFAI Player of the Year in 2006, he later won the league with Bohemians in 2009. Having also won a title with Sligo Rovers in 2012, he also helped the Bit o’ Red to three FAI Cup titles.

Seán Molloy said he got in touch with Ndo after hearing he was looking to work with clubs in Mayo and Sligo to complete his coaching badges. He was said to be impressed with the community ethos of Achill Rovers and Molloy is confident Ndo will continue to coach the men’s senior team along with the boys’ U-13 and girls’ U-14 teams throughout the season.

“He agreed to come down initially for two weeks and he would decide after that if he wants to stay,” the chairman added. “From talking to him, he was happy with everything and it looks good that he will continue to work with us. It will be once a week and hopefully we will get the most out of it.”