Football world mourns – Jamaica Observer

Regarded as among the prolific strikers in recent history in the Jamaica Premier League, three of Rafeik Thomas’ former employers say he left his mark on and off the field.

The 39-year-old was shot dead on Tuesday morning at his home in Denham Town in Western Kingston.

Thomas came through the youth ranks at Boys’ Town FC and eventually represented them during their stint in the top flight where he scored close to 40 goals in his five seasons. His best season came in the 2014-15 season when he netted 16 goals to finish third in the golden boot race behind former national strikers Craig Foster and Jermaine “Tuffy” Anderson.

His head coach during those years and current president of the club, Andrew Price, says Thomas was an unpredictable force up front.

“He wasn’t a bullish, brutish striker,” Price told the Jamaica Observer. “He was very composed, calm and he took his time in making his decisions and he scored some spectacular but clinical goals. One thing with Rafeik as a centre forward, he could score with any part of his body: glancing headers, volleys, chips, dink over onrushing goalkeepers; he was just a class finisher and a prolific goal scorer. He was also very skilful and very tricky and difficult to mark because you didn’t know what he was going to do next.”

However, Price says his personality and impact off the field was just as important.

“He was an unassuming individual, very quiet, very humble and very jovial,” he said. “You had to put things out of him but he was very opinionated. Great fun to be around because he would crack jokes with the players and the coaching staff. He was just a joy to coach and fun to be around. As Rafeik matured and coming back to Boys’ Town in the twilight of his career, he became a mentor to a lot of the young players in the squad. He would teach them how to finish and move around the field, so he was more of an influencer and teacher.”

Thomas played for a handful of Premier League clubs including Harbour View FC where he won the title in the 2009-10 season.

General Manager Clyde Jureidini hailed his impact at the club he spent over a decade. Jureidini told the Observer, “He was dedicated to his craft as a striker in his career. He played most of his football life at Harbour View, scored some very important goals and winning goals in big games and won many titles in both the KSAFA knockout, the all-island JFF knockout and league titles and part of our participation in international competitions.”

Thomas joined Waterhouse FC in the 2018-19 season and finished with two runner up medals in the Premier League. He also played a role in their Concacaf Caribbean Cup campaigns in 2019 and 2020.

Head Coach Marcel Gayle told the Observer that his contributions to Waterhouse was crucial.

“He was a true footballer to the core, he was exemplary,” Gayle said. “He was humble, disciplined, had great work ethic, infectious, kind-hearted and worked as hard as everyone else. Rafeik was an awesome player. He scored some important goals for the club. He was one of our better players in terms of on the field of play and his leadership off it and he’ll definitely be missed.”

Though saddened by his death, Price says he’ll always have joy remembering Thomas’ crucial goal for the club in the 2023 KSAFA Championship final.

“The last goal he scored for Boys’ Town was against Constant Spring last year, which was the winning goal,” Price said. “That will be my lasting memory of him, playing for his boyhood club. He’s played for a lot of clubs but he had most joy playing for Boys’ Town because it was his club as a youngster and the club of his father.”

Thomas, who also had a stint with Tivoli Gardens’ between 2012 and 2014, made three appearances for Humble Lion in the recently concluded Premier League season with his final match coming against Mount Pleasant on New Year’s Eve.

He also made several local Reggae Boyz training camps but wasn’t selected to represent the country.