This year’s Kappa Classic turned out to be a proud and memorable experience for Kalay Hollis.

Hollis served as an assistant coach of PHC’s under-13 girls team who were successful at last weekend’s event to complete an impressive double after also claiming league honours.

It was her first taste of success as a coach in the tournament, which she attributes to team harmony and having fun.

“Working together as a team, communicating with each other while on the field and just having fun and enjoying the sport was the key to our team’s success,” Hollis told The Royal Gazette.

“Our girls enjoyed playing on the big stage at Kappa. A few were nervous at first, but once they started playing they enjoyed themselves. They did a very good job”

PHC’s successful campaign was not without its challenges.

“I think every road is a challenge but with every challenge in life you find ways to get through,” said Hollis.

“That’s what our team did and we found ways to get through the challenges and persevered. We are very proud of the girls and their accomplishments this season.”

Hollis is a member of PHC’s senior women’s team and serves alongside team-mates Taznae Fubler and Micah Pond on the coaching staff of the club’s under-13 girls team.

She began coaching last year with PHC’s under-9 girls team who narrowly missed out on reaching the final in the Kappa Classic and Bermuda Football Association tournaments.

“What inspired me to be a coach is to give back to the young girls who aspire to be football players, to teach and to show them the fun behind playing the sport,” Hollis explained.

“I coached with Taznae Fubler for the past two years and this year Micah Pond joined us.

“This [Kappa tile] is my first success as a coach. Last year our under-9 girls made it to semi-finals in Kappa and also the BFA division tournament, losing on penalties.

“This year our under-13 girls got knocked out in the semi-finals in the BFA division tournament and won the league and Kappa.”

Hollis’s commitment to PHC is remarkable in the aftermath of losing boyfriend and PHC senior men’s captain Marco Warren, who died nearly a year ago, bur she has pushed on through her devastating loss as she believes that is what the father of her one-year-old son, Vega, would have wanted.

“The way I cope is to just keep pushing through the challenging times, have fun, be the best that I can be and do the best that I can,” Hollis said.

“He would have wanted me to stay on my purpose. My life going forward is dedicated to paying tribute to Marco’s life, especially through football.

“It’s a long hard process and I take it one day at a time. My faith in God is my strength right now and I have great support from my family and friends and lots of wonderful memories to cherish.”