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The popular Bahrain Rugby Football Club’s (BRFC) new executive committee is negotiating with its land owners to extend its lease and continue to invest in its much-admired sports arena and community facilities.
The task is the most important item on the agenda of the club’s newly-appointed chairman, British company executive and rugby-playing enthusiast Mike Cunningham, who took over the role from Mehdi Honar after securing the most votes from members in a nine-strong field of nominated candidates.
In his first interview since before voted into office at the club’s annual general meeting, Mike, 48, a power company chief executive officer, said: “It’s a jewel in the crown of Gulf rugby! No other rugby club has facilities and support like Bahrain Rugby Football Club. As a sporting and social club I don’t think there’s anything to match it anywhere else in the GCC.”
Only last year the club unveiled plans for a BD1.5 million investment in a new clubhouse within its grounds in Janabiya, on the edge of Saar, to include new fitness facilities, restaurants and car parking
“The club is still keen to invest in improving the facilities at our current ground,” said Mike. “This depends on securing a long-term lease, which is in progress, and we are hopeful to secure that soon.
“Bahrain Rugby Football Club has the balance of a 10-year lease for the site, but is looking to extend this to make it a permanent home for the club in Bahrain. The current lease has approximately three years left.
“We’re hoping to secure an open-ended lease that would allow BRFC to remain at the location and invest in the development of the facility. The land is owned by a Bahraini family, who have been great supporters of the club for many years.”
Mike, who was born in the West Yorkshire town of Normanton, is married to Canadian chiropractor Amy Bowzaylo and they live in Barbar. They have three children, Adam, 20, who is studying acting and performance at the University of Lancaster (UCLAN) in Preston, Sierra, 16, is finishing her first year of IGCSEs in Barcelona and Imogen, 14, is studying at Bahrain School.
Mike came to Bahrain for the first time in 2003 to carry out consultancy work at ALBA’s power plant, returned for a four-year stint in 2005 while working on a construction project in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia and settled here in 2010 as a production director before taking up his current position.
“I love Bahrain,” he said. “Although I might talk about going back to the UK someday, Bahrain is the place I currently call home. It’s a warm, welcoming place to bring up a family and Bahraini people are some of the friendliest I’ve met.”
Mike started playing rugby at high school, both the sport’s codes - Rugby Union and Rugby League, and continued up until he was 30.
He took it up again while working in Saudi Arabia and played for BRFC’s local rivals, Al Khobar Vets and made a few guest appearances for Bahrain Firbolgs, named after an ancient Irish warrior tribe and a charity team of the same name, before moving to Bahrain.
He is now a back row lock fixture of the BRFC’s Golden Oldies team, and has taken on the role of vice-captain, and, last week, was on tour with the side on a sporting and charitable mission to Sri Lanka, as highlighted in last week’s issue of GulfWeekly.
“This year AGRFU (West Asia) introduced a second team competition and I’ve been able to play a few games for our Bahrain Select team,” he added.
Mike’s been a Castleford Tigers RLFC fan for most of his life but loves both codes. “There are so many sportsmen and women that I admire it would be impossible to name one,” he said. “It’s the values that I admire; commitment, teamwork and humanity. You can be a great sportsman, but it’s important to be a great human being too.”
He became a member of BRFC in 2010 and had never featured on the club’s executive committee until now. So what made him stand for the chairman’s position? “The opportunity to give something back to the club and support an exciting period of the growth of rugby in Bahrain and the GCC,” he explained.
“I’m deeply grateful to the membership for giving me their trust, but also very much aware of the challenges ahead. Previous chairman have done wonderful things for Bahrain Rugby Football Club and they leave big boots to fill.
“The members have great expectations, both in terms of the success of our teams on the field and the development of our club, so there is much to be done over the coming years.
“I am to build on the efforts of previous chairmen and executive committees. I see the success of our 1st XV as one of our priorities.
“Last year we brought in our first professional senior rugby coach and this year we made the final of the Gulf Premiership for the first time since 2010.
“We have had great results from some of our other representative sports too, such as netball and Gaelic Football, and, it’s important to support these teams to enable this to continue. “The long-term future of our sporting teams relies on our policy of youth development. We have great programmes for our juniors, supported by parents and our volunteer coaches - I want to ensure the support to these areas continues.
“Off the sporting field, I’m keen that a visit to Bahrain Rugby Football Club provides the best experience for our members and their guests. Since taking on the role of chairman, I’ve listened to many opinions from members on what that means.
“We’ve started addressing some of the issues raised already with our refurbishment of the gym and developing our programme of classes held in our multi-sports hall.
“We’re going to put a plan together for the coming year that addresses other areas that will improve the experience.
“We’re very lucky to have retained some experienced committee members as well as some younger faces. It’s great to see a new generation of members taking an active interest in the direction of the club.”
Mike will be supported in his endeavours by Bruce Aitken, vice-chairman, Tom Ham, general secretary, Sanne Smith, assistant general secretary, Sam Gale, honorary treasurer, Andrew Wilkie, club captain, Sal Wilson, sponsorship secretary, Mark Burnell, events secretary and Adam Wallace, 1st team captain.
“At the AGM, the members wholeheartedly recorded their appreciation to the outgoing executive committee for all their effort, which has put the club in a very secure position,” added Mike. “The members requested greater information on the ongoing work of the executive committee and it was agreed that minutes from future executive committee meetings would be published within the club.
“Bahrain Rugby Football Club has great sporting facilities and coaching programmes, so for anyone with children or an interest in rugby, football, netball, Gaelic football or cricket it’s a great choice.
“We boast a multi-sports hall, gym and a 25 metre swimming pool. For social members we also have fantastic facilities, with excellent dining and entertaining options.
“Our membership is diverse, from those who come to enjoy the sports to those who just come to enjoy the busy, friendly club atmosphere.”
At the weekend the venue hosted the latest edition of the popular Trib Fest, which attracted thousands of music fans.
BRFC currently boasts around 850 family and 160 single memberships and is open to anyone living either in the kingdom or the Eastern Provinces of Saudi Arabia. The club currently boasts in excess of 40 different nationalities on its books.
Family annual membership costs BD200 and it is BD150 for single members.
