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THE future of the EZ Fit Sportsplex, one of Bahrain's well-established sporting facilities, is uncertain and it may be transformed into a venue for weddings.
The centre, located in Saar, includes three indoor pitches, a weights room and an outdoor basketball court. It also provides fitness classes for all ages and scores of kids participate in weekly football coaching classes in an air-conditioned environment.
An official at the centre said the owner, a prominent Bahraini businesswoman, was reviewing all options and a decision over its future was likely to be made at the end of the month.
EZ Fit was founded with local backing by American businessman Chris Pardon in 2002 offering a variety of quick-action sports and recreational services including indoor cricket. He sold-up and moved to Australia with his wife in 2008.
A spokesman said that a decision will be made shortly on whether to 'renovate the current facilities, shut down, change completely or even to relocate to another area'.
Like all small businesses in the area, the recent political unrest badly hit trade but things are improving. The sports centre currently remains open and active with gym and aerobic classes, soccer coaching and the football pitches are also available for private hire.
Moroccan football coach Adil Glia, an award-winning Expat League player, said: "Classes are still on at EZ Fit for as long as it's open. But for how long, nobody knows.
"I am really sad about all this as this centre provides children with so many indoor activities. If it closes where will the kids go? It's too hot to play football outside now.
"It's just a shame. Honestly though, nobody really knows what's happening and until a decision is made we simply must continue doing our jobs."
Many parents hope further investment is channeled into the venue's sporting facilities. Dad David Axtell, from Saar, takes his son George, nine, to football classes twice a week and was part of an adult team which won the first two indoor cricket titles held at the venue.
"I have been using the facility since it opened," he said. "It's in a fantastic location and probably the only facility that is readily available all year round, especially at this time when the heat really starts to hit us.
"It's an environment where you can still continue to play sports, in my son's case football, in relative comfort.
"You look around the kingdom and see other facilities doing well, like the gyms and football academies so you wonder why it is not a viable option to keep this one going - with the location one would think it is better placed than most?
"While the football facilities are not extensive, the trend in Europe appears to be in teaching close skills and ball control, which is taught at EZ Fit.
"Losing the centre would leave a big gap in the kingdom's sporting facilities in my opinion."
