Taha Sabbagh: Elite Fight Force members plead for classes to be moved after ... trends now
Concerned members of a southwest Sydney gym where a father-of-three was brutally gunned down in front of his young son have pleaded with the owners to relocate classes amid fears of more bloodshed.
Elite Fight Force co-owners Adam Omar, also known as 'Boxa Yass', and professional fighter Hany Sbat closed their MMA gym in Sefton on Thursday after their friend Taha Sabbagh, 40, was executed in the carpark.
Over the next few days, Mr Omar and Mr Sbat were bombarded with messages from worried gym-goers - which runs classes for children as young as five - requesting future personal training sessions be moved to a nearby park.
But the gym has refused to be spooked into changing its routine, with the owners working to soothe members' fears this week as the facility reopened.
Elite Fight Force owners Adam Omar (pictured left), also known as 'Boxa Yass', and Hany Sbat (right) have called on supporters to rally behind the gym in the wake of the shooting
'We have been getting a few messages regarding holding PTs at the park,' the gym wrote on Instagram.
'I want to firmly let everyone know this is not an option. Elite Fight Force is our home, we've been teaching classes and holding personal training sessions here over the last year, and this is not going to change now.'
The owners said they did not condone or have 'any control' over the gangland murder and it was the first time the gym had ever been targeted.
'This has never happened in the history of the gym and god willing will never occur again,' the post continued.
'EEF has always been and will always be a safe, Islamic and family friendly gym.'
'Plenty of our 5-year-old and 7-year-old customers will still be training with us, we thank those who are still with us for their loyalty and will see you all on Monday.'
The gym called on its members to share the post on their stories if they 'stood with EEF', with more than 10 supporters quickly uploading it to their pages.
Meanwhile, others have shared testimonials rallying behind the gym as they grapple to maintain their reputation.
Taha Sabbagh (pictured) was gunned down while sitting in his car in the gym's car park on Thursday morning
'I speak as someone who has trained at Elite Fight Force for over three years, spending time almost on a daily basis with my brothers,' one man wrote.
Elite Fight Force issued an Instagram post on Sunday saying classes and personal training sessions would remain at the gym
'I have only ever seen good from those at the gym. People of integrity and good character.... and go out of their way to help others.
'What
