^{_{Photo: Karim Juan, outgoing coach of Western Ballaz}}

Karim Juan steps down as head coach for the Cayo Western Ballaz for the remainder of the season.

by Charles Gladden

BELIZE CITY, Thurs. Apr. 4, 2024

When things were looking good moving forward for the Belize Elite Basketball League (BEBL), they were struck with the disturbing news that Karim Juan was stepping down from his participation in the league as head coach for the Cayo Western Ballaz for the remainder of the season.

Juan’s departure comes in part when the league is attempting to restore itself after the withdrawal of Orange Walk Running Rebels, the management of that club charging that the league’s commissioner, Glenn Gill is unfit for the position.

Juan, who had been the league’s commissioner for six years, from 2014 to 2020, believes that the league currently has no structure, and that Gill is controlled by certain teams.

“My withdrawal is due to the league structure, [without] separation of power. The managers run the league, so the commissioner simply follows orders … Rules only apply to certain franchises, while others [are] above the law,” he said.

Additionally, Juan told Amandala that the match between them (Cayo Western Ballaz) and the Running Rebels on Saturday, March 9, where the Ballaz had won the game by protest, would have made them 2-3 in the standings today; however, due to Rebels’ withdrawal, their win was nulled by the league.

“The bylaws state that teams can add players [before] their 4th game. With the OW game nullified, we were 1 – 2. We were the only team who did not play four games as yet, so the rule applied only to us. It’s in the bylaws,” he outlined.

In an exclusive interview with Amandala, Gill said that he doesn’t welcome the idea of Juan leaving, but it’s his decision. He also clarified Juan’s argument points by saying that the game wasn’t nullified, but the statistics were.

“His appeal is that because the game was said to be nullified, they have not played their fourth game as yet. But the rule is not playing the fourth game, the rule is putting the fourth roster; not the game, it is the roster. When he spoke of the game being nullified, it’s not the game; it’s the statistics from the game that are nullified,” Gill said.

He further mentioned, “If you played a game, that game stands. The rule is the team that withdrew from the tournament, all games that the team played will be two points to the opponents and zero points for that team that withdrew from the competition. The teams that didn’t play that team up to that point, all got two points for the scheduled game for the Orange Walk Running Rebels. The FIBA rule which governs the tournament states that each team will get two points and the team that withdrew gets zero points.”

Juan pointed out that there is favoritism in the league and referenced the double signing of Kirk Smith, Jr., of last season and Jeremiah Toney of this season. He said both players committed an offense, but the cases were handled differently.

“Track all the decisions of the league for the past two years. A player signed 2 contracts last season and was allowed to play. This season, the player was immediately suspended. [The] same situation, [but] handled completely [differently],” he said.

When Amandala questioned Gill, whether the league is showing preferable treatment toward certain teams, he denied having any knowledge of such.

Amandala has learned that the assistant coach for the Cayo Western Ballaz, Douglas Smith will also be stepping down. Taking over the helm will be well-known coach, Bernie Tarr, who has coached them for a year and a quarter (2019 & 2020) and has won a BEBL title with the Belmopan Bandits in 2017. Coach Tarr will be making his debut in Friday’s matchup hosting the Griga Dream Ballers.