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Bahrain Rugby Football Club (BRFC) has this week unveiled ambitious plans for a BD1.5 million investment in a new clubhouse within its grounds on the edge of Saar and Janabiya to include fitness facilities, restaurants and car parking.
Details of the project were unveiled to members on Sunday evening by chairman Mehdi Honar with a slide presentation during a reception to celebrate the recently upgraded pool area.
The construction of the proposed complex confirms the club committee’s firm belief in the kingdom’s future as a continuing magnet for expat families and a desire to attract even more locals to participate in the range of sporting activities on offer.
“Despite the economic challenges in the region, we want to show our belief that there is a bright future in the Kingdom of Bahrain for BRFC,” added Mehdi.
The new three-storey clubhouse, on land behind the pool, will measure approximately 5,000sq/m, with a rooftop area, and feature poolside, a la carte and casual dining restaurants, a state-of-the-art gymnasium, a function room, conference facilities, stores, offices, reception area and members’ lounge, as well as provide an extension to the pool area.
BRFC currently boasts 850 family and 160 single memberships. Its seven-strong committee has been working on the concept for nearly six months. “We wanted to show our vision for the club to our members,” explained Mehdi. “I would like to put on the record that the present committee, the management and staff members during the last few years have worked very hard to make BRFC a successful community members’ club.
“This can be seen by the improvements to club facilities and the variety of activities we have staged. Of course, this success is not only down to our hard work, I strongly believe that the support we receive from the authorities in the kingdom, our sponsors and, in particular, our members and volunteers, continue to play a crucial role too.”
Negotiations for securing the cost of the venture are now moving apace. Mehdi said: “The entire project will be funded using the money that the club has saved, through sponsorship and possible bank assistance.
“A great deal of work still needs to be done before we can start construction such as the preparation of more detailed drawings, the selection of contractors, financial arrangements, building permits, securing additional utilities etc. but the estimated start of build would be the summer of 2017.”
With falling oil prices, national budget constraints and austerity measures being introduced, these are challenging times, but the project plans are likely to give everyone a boost knowing that the club believes that Bahrain is worth investing in and the future looks promising.
“Indeed!” said Mehdi. “We, as a community sporting club, would like to be part of the nation’s drive to overcome these financial challenges. We feel that the efforts being made by the Kingdom of Bahrain towards promoting and supporting the non-oil sector will bring about a bright future.”
Members quizzed Mehdi, committee members and the management team during Sunday’s pool extension party and the vibe was supportive, judging by the round of applause at the end of the presentation.
“We have shown the committee’s plan for the new clubhouse and other proposed work to our members. The support as usual was positive and we will continue with preliminary works and present the vision in more detail at our next AGM later on in the year to obtain full approval from the members.”
In the meantime, the 2,500 to 3,000 people using the club can enjoy the recently improved pool area. The swimming pool has had a new chiller, heater and ladders installed, its interior walls and flooring repaired, and the area surrounding it has been opened up and extended. The next plan is to provide an additional poolside food outlet to include a pizza oven.
Since its formation in 1971 the club has played matches in Juffair, near the airport and in Saar before moving to its current location in 1991.
The walls of the current clubhouse feature team pictures covering the past 40-plus years alongside rugby memorabilia.
One of the treasures is a framed image of His Majesty King Hamad, then Heir Apparent, kicking off a match in 1998-99 between the Bahrain Defence Force and Bahrain Rugby Football Club.
