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Coach of Splash Brothers Kareem L. Thomas aka Sally Black fired!

- Splash Brothers, a team that reached the championship last year, are struggling in the 2016 Hon Julian Fraser Save the Seed National Basketball League season
Splash Brothers Kareem L. Thomas aka Sally Black (left) has been fired by the team, which has been struggling in the 2016 Hon Julian Fraser Save the Seed Basketball League. Photo: VINO/File
Kareem L. Thomas aka Sally Black (sitting in orange jersey) has denied that he was fired by Splash Brothers but rather that he stepped down. Photo: VINO/File
Kareem L. Thomas aka Sally Black (sitting in orange jersey) has denied that he was fired by Splash Brothers but rather that he stepped down. Photo: VINO/File
Splash Brothers were beaten by West Gunners in the final of the Hon Julian Fraser Save the Seed League in 2015. Photo: VINO/File
Splash Brothers were beaten by West Gunners in the final of the Hon Julian Fraser Save the Seed League in 2015. Photo: VINO/File
Former Bayside Blazers player Steve E. Parillon (left) appears to be doing coaching duties for the struggling Splash Brothers. Right: Shamoii A. Dagou has confirmed that the team fired its coach Kareem L. Thomas aka Sally Black. Photo: VINO/File
Former Bayside Blazers player Steve E. Parillon (left) appears to be doing coaching duties for the struggling Splash Brothers. Right: Shamoii A. Dagou has confirmed that the team fired its coach Kareem L. Thomas aka Sally Black. Photo: VINO/File
DUFF’S BOTTOM, Tortola, VI- The most popular, highly anticipated and competitive Basketball League in the Virgin Islands (VI), the Hon Julian Fraser Save the Seed National Basketball League where players, managers, owners and coaches are born, is making waves again.

Since the League started in 2013 each year a coach has made headlines by being fired because of the intense competition and how seriously teams take winning as they play for both Rings and Trophies.

In 2015, for example, we all remembered the Team that made Championship- Knights- fired their Head Coach Verne W. Turnbull.

Splash Brothers’ Sally Black Out!

Well word just reaching our sports desk is that Splash Brothers, the 2015 Eastern Division Champions in the Hon Julian Fraser Save the Seed Basketball League, reportedly fired their Head Coach Kareem L. Thomas aka Sally Black a few days ago.

This was confirmed by Team founder Shamoii A. Dagou. Speaking exclusively to our newsroom today, October 1, 2016 Mr Dagou claimed that Mr Thomas was fired because “he can’t coach and he was holding back the players.”

The team, which is from Belle Vue on the main Island of Tortola, struggled this year to win and have lost 4 games with 3 wins. They have one more game to play to possibly secure a spot in the top four to make the playoffs.

Coach Thomas fires back!

However, former Head Coach Mr Thomas has fired back. He said the team “lacks discipline” and denied that he was fired but said he “stepped down”. Meanwhile, Team Founder Mr Dagou has confirmed that because of all the conflicts and low morale of the team under Mr Thomas, the Head Coach did advise the team that he was willing to step down and that is when he was told “not to come back...so he was fired.”

This season, at one of the Splash Brothers’ games, an internal physical fight almost broke out between two members of the team but the situation was quickly brought under control by other team Members.

No New Coach selected!

When asked by our newsroom if they had hired a new Head Coach, Mr Dagou said “not as yet”.

At the game last night September 30, 2016 in the Hon Julian Fraser Save the Seed Basketball League against We Dem Boyz, it appeared that the Splash Brothers Draft Pick, Basketball veteran Steve E. Parillon, was coaching.

Chairwoman of the League Mrs Kharid T. Fraser or Commissioner Derrick R. Varlack could not be reached for comments before publication time.

The Hon Julian Fraser Save the Seed National Basketball League was founded in 2013 by Bishop John I Cline of the New Life Baptist Church and founder of the Save the Seed Energy Centre, along with Hon Julian Fraser RA, the Third District Representative and Leader of the Opposition.

This has been the only Basketball League in the VI that has introduced a Draft System that continues to bring competiveness and excitement to the sport.

Meanwhile, games continue this evening in the Hon Julian Fraser Save the Seed League:

Saturday, October 1, 2016

6:00 PM Pure Playaz vs Community One

7:30 PM Red Zone vs  Warrias

9:00 PM Winning Mentality vs West Gunners

10:30 PM Next vs Starz

Sunday, October 2, 2016- NO GAMES, New Life Baptist Church Power Plus begins!

Friday, October 7, 2016- NO GAMES, New Life Baptist Church Power Plus ends!

Saturday, October 8, 2016- NO GAMES, Digicel Jump Start activities with the Department of Youth Affairs & Sports.

14 Responses to “Coach of Splash Brothers Kareem L. Thomas aka Sally Black fired!”

  • lebron james (01/10/2016, 14:09) Like (1) Dislike (3) Reply
    Its About Time!!!
  • watching (01/10/2016, 14:16) Like (13) Dislike (1) Reply
    Since when are coaches hired and fired for an amateur basketball league? WAY TOO MANY inflated egos . Coach because you love the game and want to give back to it . Everyone is always looking for whats in it for me ? Sad
    • @ watching (02/10/2016, 06:30) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
      The term Hired and Fired is used but aint nttn in it..... It's all volunteered work and the love and teaching of the GAME !
  • dog (01/10/2016, 14:19) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    Well sah look melee in this league
  • ZZZ (01/10/2016, 14:25) Like (3) Dislike (4) Reply
    Finally...... Watch them boys now!!
  • dude (01/10/2016, 14:35) Like (10) Dislike (1) Reply
    That's so funny but yeah he doesn't know anything about basketball and the players lack discipline so they're both right lmao
  • spanish man (01/10/2016, 14:54) Like (6) Dislike (2) Reply
    Hope rajah smith is next to be fired from avengers lol
  • Fan of the game (01/10/2016, 14:59) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    Even if they make playoffs they'll be in 4th position and we all know they not beating "Next" ... So all the best next year fellas
  • TALK THAT (01/10/2016, 15:29) Like (2) Dislike (5) Reply
    school children say them hope when Bayside loose to Gunners next Wednesday hope no coaches are fired..thing to talk
  • BOLT (01/10/2016, 15:35) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    We AIN EVEN MAKING PLAYOFF AT LEAST THEY GOT THREE WINS, Who is next to be fired?
  • Baller (02/10/2016, 00:56) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
    Why he telling people he was not fired?
  • Decisive game (02/10/2016, 02:22) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Starz vs splash brothers this coming Wednesday 5th October 2016 @7:30 pm
  • LOVE of the Game (02/10/2016, 12:21) Like (18) Dislike (0) Reply
    This is "PURE GOSSIP" Now let's put things into perspective. It seems that Shamoii Dagou is very much so BITTER about their 3 wins to 4 losses series. He stated that former head coach Thomas was fired. However, in order to be fired (terminated, dismissed) one has to first be employed and receiving monetary compensation and second, the termination of employment by the employer has to be against the will of the employee. Please explain to which agency was Mr. Thomas employed, how much monetary compensation he received, (because as we all know it was volunteer services being rendered), and how was it possible to be fired if one has decided to leave at their own will. That seems more like a resignation (self demotion) or in layman's term stepping down, which was confirmed by both parties. Additionally, it was stated that Mr. Thomas can't coach and is holding back players. However, have me corrected if I am wrong, but wasn't Mr Thomas the Head Coach last year when the same team Splash Brothers earned the title "2015 Eastern Division Champions in the Hon Julian Fraser Save the Seed Basketball League"? Where is that article? Last but not least, Mr. Thomas stated that the team lacks discipline. According to this article and I quote, "This season, at one of the Splash Brothers’ games, an internal physical fight almost broke out between two members of the team but the situation was quickly brought under control by other team members". Point Proven!!! Even the blind can see the team has internal conflict amongst team players; as to why they found it equally acceptable to be fighting, much less their own team members. I guess not only does Mr. Thomas has to coach the Adult Size Boys (Splash Brothers) in the art of basketball but also on how to be men and not sore losers. So instead of casting blame and sabotaging, degrading, slandering, and/or defaming one's character, everyone needs to take full responsibility of their own actions and be held accountable accordingly. REMEMBER NO ONE MAN CAN BE A TEAM AND PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT.


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