World ParaVolley has learned that Ms. Pheona Kimonge of Kenya, one of the Federation’s International Classifiers, has passed away. Details have only recently been published.
Pheona died at the Kenyatta National Referral Hospital on the early morning hours of Sunday, September 13th, after a short illness. She had lived with a heart condition for a long time, having undergone several surgeries throughout the years.
Pheona was 51 years old at the time of her passing.
Pheona was a dedicated and respected worker at the Kenyatta National Hospital Physiotherapy Department, and loved to sing with St. Luke’s Choir. Her work colleagues and her choir-mates have created the following tribute video in memory of Pheona.
After becoming a World ParaVolley classifier, Pheona did quite a number of classifications with local sitting volleyball clubs in Kenya. Her activity included:
- 2009 Level 1 classification course, Rwanda
- 2010 March Level 2 classification course, Egypt
- 2010 July Level 3 classification course, USA
- 2012 Classifier Sub Saharan Zone Championship, Rwanda
- 2012 Classifier North Africa Zone Championship, Egypt
- 2012 Classifier World ParaVolley Intercontinental, Egypt
- 2013 Classifier/Tutor Women’s Sitting Volleyball World Championships Qualifier, Kenya
- 2014 Classifier/Tutor ParaVolley Africa Championships, Morocco
- 2015 Classifier/Tutor PVA championship, Rwanda
- 2015 ParaVolley Europe Women’s Sitting Volleyball Championships, Slovenia – nominated but could not attend due to visa issues
- 2020 Tokyo 2020 Women’s Final Qualification tournament, Canada
Tributes – Pheona Kimonge (Kenya)
Innocent Komakech – Head of Classification, ParaVolley Africa:
“From the time we trained together as classifiers, I have known Pheona as a person of strong character who is very passionate and dedicated towards classification. Africa and WPV will miss her dearly. May she rest in eternity!”
World ParaVolley President Barry Couzner:
“I had the honour of first meeting Pheona at the 2012 Intercontinental in Egypt and then several times at other competitions in her Classifier role. She was a wonderful person and very professional and I know that she will be greatly missed by the ParaVolley family.”
ParaVolley Africa President Dr Hayat Khattab:
“I received with great sadness the news of the death of a great person my friend Pheona. She has played a very important role in the classification of the players. I first met her in the African qualifying Competition in Morocco in 2014, then I met her in Rwanda twice. Pheona was a very pleasant person, professional, very helpful and agreeable. Pheona will be really missed, God bless her soul.”
World ParaVolley Medical Director Louise Ashcroft:
“I was very saddened by the news of Pheona’s passing. I first met Pheona in Oklahoma at the 2010 World Championships when she was completing her international classification training. She was a lovely woman, and kind and generous with her time. I was fortunate to spend time with her in Halifax this year. She will be missed by the World ParaVolley family, and especially by the International Classifiers who were fortunate enough to have worked alongside her.”
